“Politicising Security Is Dangerous” – Ntim Fordjour Demands Immediate Appointment of Defence Minister
By Maurice Otoo
Ranking Member on Parliament’s Defence Committee, Hon. Ntim Fordjour, has strongly criticised the delay in appointing a substantive Defence Minister, warning that Ghana’s national security architecture risks being weakened if the matter is politicised.
Speaking on Kessben TV’s Digest show in Accra, the lawmaker described the situation as “reckless and dangerous,” insisting that security matters must be treated with the utmost seriousness rather than partisan considerations.
According to him, Ghana currently finds itself in an “uncomfortable security situation,” especially amid rising tensions and escalating conflicts in parts of northern Ghana, the Gulf of Guinea, and Burkina Faso.
Hon. Fordjour referenced Article 83 of the Constitution, stressing that matters concerning the security of the state require dedicated ministerial oversight. He argued that although acting appointments may be temporarily allowed at the cabinet level, such arrangements are not expected.
“We need a minister responsible for defense as enshrined in the Constitution of Ghana,” he stressed.
The MP further questioned the decision to combine the Finance and Defense portfolios, arguing that the two ministries require completely different expertise and attention.
“Finance and Defense are completely different,” he noted, adding that the current Finance Minister lacks a prior security background necessary for handling the complexities of the defense sector.
He also rejected arguments that the absence of major security incidents justifies the current arrangement, insisting that effective national security management should not be measured only by whether crises have occurred.
“If anyone says there has been no incident, so the appointment doesn’t matter, then the person does not mean well for the country’s security,” he cautioned.
Hon. Fordjour maintained that the Finance Minister already carries enormous national responsibilities and may not have adequate time to closely supervise and monitor the defense sector effectively.
