Former Minister of Defence Dominic Nitiwul has defended the Akufo-Addo-led government’s record on the Ghana Armed Forces, insisting that despite financial constraints, the military remained a top priority.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Monday (24 March), Nitiwul dismissed claims that the government left soldiers unfed due to an unpaid food supply debt of GHC270 million.
“I would say that the armed forces was the number one priority for the government. That doesn’t mean that when you are going to share the national cake, you give it to only one institution. No government will do that. But I say to you that the nature of the way the bills come for the armed forces, they would always lag behind in payments,” he stated.
Food supply delays are a systemic issue
Nitiwul acknowledged that food supply debts for the military were a recurring issue, not unique to the Akufo-Addo administration. He explained that due to procurement and auditing processes, payments to suppliers naturally lag behind.
“When the NDC was leaving office in 2016, they left behind a food bill of GH₵15 million, which today would be GHC71 million in real terms. When we came in, we paid off those bills in bits and pieces and ensured that food was never lacking for the soldiers.”
He emphasised that discussing such matters publicly could undermine morale within the armed forces. “What I didn’t do was to go to town and start making noise about it because it doesn’t help anybody. It’s not going to put food on the table of the armed forces.”
Ensuring soldiers’ needs were met
The former minister stressed that a soldier’s priority is to have the necessary resources to operate effectively.
“A soldier operating in Bimbilla or Aflao wants to wake up and get his food, ammunition, weapons, shoes, and clothing. It is the duty of the government to ensure that suppliers are paid, not the duty of the soldier in the bush who is risking his life for the safety of Ghanaians.”
He called on the current administration to handle financial obligations responsibly rather than making them political issues.
Efforts to reduce dependence on suppliers
Nitiwul revealed that under his leadership, the government initiated a self-sustaining food production strategy for the military.
“We joined the National Service Secretariat to acquire land and start producing food for ourselves because the bills were increasing. When I took office, the food bill was GH₵15-16 million per month; today, it is almost GH₵1.5 billion monthly due to increased consumption.”
He pointed to the establishment of the Defence Industrial Holding Company (DIHOC) and partnerships with the military to produce rice, meat, and other food items to ensure sustainability.
Debt accumulation is a national issue
Addressing the broader issue of debt accumulation, Nitiwul noted that financial constraints are not limited to the military.
“There is mammoth debt in all ministries. Defence is just a small part of the national debt. If you compare GHC270 million to the national debt, you will understand that it is insignificant in the grand scheme.”
He highlighted that Ghana, like many other nations, spends more than it earns. “We cannot be earning GHC 100 and spending GHC 500 —it’s unsustainable. The only options are to cut expenditure or increase revenue through taxes or loans.”
Public complaints could harm National Security
Nitiwul cautioned that making military financial challenges public could have unintended consequences. “If suppliers refuse to deliver food, that becomes a security threat. But the solution is not to complain publicly—it is to engage the finance minister, suppliers, and stakeholders to resolve the matter.”
He noted that during his tenure, there were several instances where food suppliers threatened to stop deliveries due to delayed payments. “More than ten times, suppliers told us they wouldn’t deliver food. My approach was to call a meeting with them and the finance minister, negotiate payments, and ensure continuous supply.”
A call for responsible governance
Nitiwul urged the current administration to adopt practical solutions rather than politicising military financial matters.
“The minister should focus on solving the problem, not making a public spectacle out of it. When faced with such challenges, you negotiate, strategise, and find a way to make payments—because, at the end of the day, soldiers must eat.”
“I hope they carry forward the initiatives we started so that these perennial problems can be resolved.”
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