Security analyst Professor Kwesi Aning has confirmed reports that 40,000 rounds of ammunition went missing from the Ministry of Defence’s armoury shortly before the previous administration exited office on January 7, 2025.
In an exclusive conversation with Adom News, the Director of the Faculty of Academic Affairs and Research at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre disclosed that the late Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, had personally informed him about the incident.
Before his death in a helicopter crash on August 6, 2025, Dr. Boamah had, in July 2025, alleged that thousands of rounds of military ammunition transferred from the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to the National Security Secretariat in 2024 could not be traced.
He subsequently directed that the Secretariat investigate the matter.
Prof. Aning described the situation as “deeply troubling and a potential threat to Ghana’s national security and democratic stability.”
“We are conducting a comprehensive study to determine the number of weapons that are currently outside state control,” Prof. Aning revealed. “There are millions of firearms in private hands, and this poses a serious danger—particularly in the lead-up to elections.”
He further cautioned that the rise in gun-related incidents, coupled with political interference in law enforcement, is gradually eroding public confidence in state institutions.
“Public officials, fearful of losing their jobs, often fail to act when political actors break the law,” he stated. “This weakens our institutions and jeopardizes the peace we’ve worked so hard to maintain.”
The security expert also voiced frustration over the illegal use of sirens by government appointees and security personnel, stressing that only the President, Vice President, Speaker of Parliament, and Chief Justice are permitted to use them under Ghanaian law.
“What we’re witnessing is a clear disregard for the law by people who should be setting the example,” he said. “It reflects how much we’ve strayed from accountability and discipline.”
Prof. Aning further urged the government to take immediate steps to address the proliferation of weapons and restore faith in Ghana’s security architecture, warning that failure to act could push the nation toward instability.
“We cannot remain silent while weapons move freely and accountability weakens. The time to act is now,” he emphasized.
Source: Akwasi Agyemang
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