Ntim Fordjour (R) says Mahama’s refusal to appoint a defence minister a threat to national security
Assin South MP and Ranking Member on Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, has condemned President Mahama’s decision to delay appointing a Defence Minister until 2026, saying it is “reckless” and a threat to national security.
Speaking on Joy FM on November 25, 2025, Ntim Fordjour said the delay is risky at a time when Ghana is dealing with serious security pressures.
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“It is very unfortunate on the part of President Mahama. Deferring the appointment of a substantive Defence Minister indefinitely to 2026 is reckless, it is dangerous, and it puts national security at risk,” he said.
He pointed out that Ghana is currently facing a mix of security challenges, from violent extremism and terrorism threats to a well-organised galamsey network equipped with advanced weapons.
Ntim Fordjour also referenced the Gbenyiri conflict, which has displaced more than 48,000 people.
He noted that 23,000 of them are now refugees, with 10,000 in Burkina Faso and 13,000 in Côte d’Ivoire.
“In the midst of the sub-regional geopolitics and the threats we face, and in the midst of the heightened insecurity we face currently, I don’t know what else the President is waiting for before he prioritises our security,” he stated.
President Mahama insists there is no need to rush the process of appointing a Defence Minister. Mahama noted that appointments to replace the late Defence and Environment Ministers will be made in 2026 after the 2025 Christmas season.
Speaking at the Jubilee House on November 25, during a courtesy call by the Ghana Muslim Mission, the President addressed public speculation about the vacant positions, which became available after the August 6, 2025, helicopter crash that claimed the lives of both ministers and six others.
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AK/BAI