Kenneth Gilbert Adjei has officially assumed office as Ghana’s new Minister of Defence, taking over from Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, who had served as caretaker of the portfolio for nearly a year.
The formal handover ceremony took place on Friday, August 14, 2026, at the Ministry of Defence in Accra. The event marked the end of Dr Forson’s interim tenure, during which he oversaw the ministry following the tragic death of the substantive minister, Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, in a military helicopter crash on August 6, 2025.
During the ceremony, both ministers signed the official handover documents, completing the transition and paving the way for Mr Adjei to assume full administrative and policy responsibility for the ministry.
In his inaugural address to staff and officials, Mr Adjei called for renewed unity and support for the Ghana Armed Forces, emphasising their critical role in safeguarding the nation’s territorial integrity and national security.
He stressed that effective defence requires close collaboration between political leadership, civilian employees, and military personnel.
Promising an open-door approach, Mr Adjei assured both civilian and military staff of his commitment to broad engagement and inclusive decision-making as he begins his tenure.
His appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Ghana’s defence sector, as the ministry continues to grapple with the institutional and emotional aftermath of Dr Omane Boamah’s passing.
Deputy Minister of Defence, Ernest Brogya Genfi, welcomed Mr Adjei and expressed appreciation to Dr Forson for his stewardship during the interim period. He pledged his full support to the new minister and expressed confidence in Mr Adjei’s ability to provide stable leadership, citing his prior experience at the ministry.
For Dr Ato Forson, Friday’s ceremony concluded an unusual chapter in which he balanced his primary duties as Finance Minister with the additional responsibility of the defence portfolio. Reflecting on his time at the helm, he said:
“I leave this Ministry with deep gratitude, a profound sense of honour and the satisfaction of duty fulfilled.”
He congratulated Mr Adjei on his new role and assured him of his continued goodwill and support.
Mr Adjei, who previously served as Deputy Minister of Defence during President John Dramani Mahama’s first administration, was reassigned to the portfolio from the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources as part of a cabinet reshuffle announced on August 7, 2026.
His familiarity with the ministry’s structures and operations is expected to ensure a smooth transition and policy continuity.
As the new Defence Minister, Mr Adjei will provide political oversight for the ministry, drive the implementation of government defence policy, and work closely with the Ghana Armed Forces on strategic national security matters.
Friday’s ceremony not only marked a formal change of leadership but also offered a moment to reflect on the legacy of the late Dr Edward Omane Boamah, whose death triggered an extended period of interim governance at the ministry.
With Mr Adjei now fully at the helm, observers anticipate a steady hand to steer Ghana’s defence agenda through a period of transition, anchored in experience and institutional memory.
