“Defence Ministry Too Critical to Leave Vacant” – Prof. Kipo Urges Immediate Appointment
By Maurice Otoo
International Relations expert Daniel Dramani Kipo has called on the President to urgently appoint a substantive Defense Minister, warning that the growing insecurity in the Sahel requires dedicated leadership at the ministry.
Speaking on the current gap at the Defense Ministry in a Zoom interview with Kessben TV’s Digest show in Accra, Prof. Kipo described the sector as too important to be left without full-time political leadership, especially at a time when geopolitical tensions in West Africa continue to escalate.
According to him, Ghana needs a sector minister focused solely on defense and national security coordination.
“We should have a sector minister to advise us on the Sahel emergence and external defense architecture,” he stated.
Prof. Kipo stressed that the Finance Minister, currently linked to the acting oversight arrangement, is already burdened with enormous responsibilities and should not be further overstretched.
“Finance Ministry is already a big ministry to manage,” he noted.
He added that although the absence of a substantive Defense Minister may not immediately pose a danger, it is not ideal for a sensitive ministry responsible for national security coordination.
“I wouldn’t say it is dangerous not to have a defense minister, but I would say it is appropriate to have the substantive minister to coordinate the affairs of the sector actively,” he said.
The security analyst further argued that Ghana must remain proactive in responding to potential spillover threats from instability in the Sahel.
“I guess the President is working things out to come out with a substantive minister to avoid a spill over from geopolitical actions,” he added.
Prof. Kipo maintained that public calls for the appointment are justified and legitimate, given the ministry’s strategic importance.
“The call is legitimate to get a substantive minister,” he concluded.
The Presidency has yet to officially announce a substantive Defense Minister following recent calls on the government.
