John Ntim Fordjour, the Ranking Member of the Defence committee in parliament, has labelled the absence of a substantive Defence Minister for over seven months as a major defence leadership failure.
According to John Ntim Fordjour, it is a major defence leadership for Ghana not to have a substantive Defence Minister for over seven months.
He also criticizes government for having the Interior Minister lead the response to the Burkina Faso attack.
Ntim Fordjour argued that the Interior Minister is not responsible for what happens outside the country.
Rev Ntim Fordjour is quoted by TV3 News flyer to have said, “This is a major defence leadership failure. For seven months, we haven’t had a substantive Minister for Defence”.
In another flyer, he stated, “It was wrong at the beginning for the Interior Minister to lead this conversation. He’s not responsible for what happens outside the country”.
The MP stressed that the Foreign Affairs Minister and the Defence Minister should be the ones to lead the response to the Burkina Faso attack.
Ntim Fordjours comments come in the wake of the Burkina Faso terrorist attack that killed seven Ghanaians.
It will be recalled that Dr Omane Boamah and seven others lost their lives in a helicopter crash on August 6, 2025.
In the aftermath, Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson was appointed to act as caretaker for the Defence Ministry.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has boldly told Ghanaians speculating about him appointing a Defence, Environment Minister to go and enjoy the Christmas holiday.
According to John Mahama, he will appoint a Defence and Environment Minister next year after the Christmas holiday.
President Mahama, speaking during a meeting at the Jubilee House, stated, “They say Allah gives and Allah takes. He took two of our comrades, and we haven’t filled those positions yet. I can see people speculating that he is going to appoint a new Defence minister, a new Environment minister.
We are not in a hurry. We will do those appointments next year. After the holiday, the Christmas holiday, we will fill those positions,” he said.
“So those speculating about somebody going to be appointed tomorrow and all that, just take your time, go and enjoy Christmas and after Christmas we will fill those ones,” he added.
However, Rev John Ntim Fordjour slammed President John Mahama over his decision to appoint a Defence Minister in 2026.
According to Rev Ntim Fordjour, Mahama’s delay in his appointment of a new Defence Minister is reckless, dangerous and puts Ghana’s national security at risk.
Speaking on Joy FM on November 25, 2025, Ntim Fordjour said, “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”.
“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.
See the post below:
Ranking Member John Ntim Fordjour labels the absence of a substantive Defence Minister for over seven months a "major defence leadership failure" in the wake of the Burkina Faso terrorist attack that killed seven Ghanaians.#3NewsGH #TV3GH pic.twitter.com/5byB8ToJ7V
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) February 17, 2026
Ranking Member John Ntim Fordjour criticizes government for having Interior Minister lead response to Burkina Faso attack, arguing he is "not responsible for what happens outside the country."#3NewsGH #TV3GH pic.twitter.com/oA2W8o034e
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) February 17, 2026