According to Professor Nana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, chairperson of the recently sworn-in Ghana Armed Forces Council, the military can support Ghana’s round-the-clock economy by utilizing its industrial and technological talents.
Speaking in Jubilee House on Monday, March 24, 2025, following his inauguration by President John Dramani Mahama, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang stated that the Armed Forces can address economic concerns while carrying out its security responsibility through its industrial and technical institutions.
“In every one of our disciplines, the military has talent and skill in abundance,” she said. “The Defence Industrial Holding Company, or DIHOC, requires private sector involvement in infrastructure development, food production, and many other areas.”
According to her, the Council will look into methods to increase the Armed Forces’ participation in industrial and manufacturing endeavors.
“It won’t be unreasonable to anticipate that our Ghanaian Armed Forces will be actively involved in the manufacturing sector, whether it be in the production of pharmaceuticals or the assembly of vehicles,” she stated.
One of the Mahama administration’s main policies is the 24-hour economy, which promotes round-the-clock operations in specific industries with the goal of boosting industrialization and employment creation.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang asserts that this vision may be supported by the internal structures of the military, especially in the areas of production and logistics.
She also brought attention to the security industry’s financial difficulties. “We are in the midst of an economic crisis,” she declared.
The Ministry of Defense owes GH¢275 million to food suppliers, which is part of its GH¢3.7 billion debt. Housing is among the infrastructure that has to be improved. We are severely short on funds.
The security of the nation must continue to be the Council’s first priority, she said, characterizing the swearing-in as a somber rather than a festive occasion.
“This is not a celebratory event, but rather a very, very solemn one,” she stated. “We are discussing our nation’s security. The appointment is not the subject of our fanfares.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang promised that the Council would take its advising function seriously, particularly when it came to long-term planning, personnel welfare, and defense strategy, and that the Council would fully support the President’s agenda.
She declared, “As Council members, we will assume the responsibility and make sure that his confidence is not misplaced.”
She urged widespread national support for the military’s changing mission as she concluded her speech. “As they say, security is everyone’s business,” she continued.
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