The Ministry of Defence is facing a financial reckoning, with food suppliers threatening to cut off essential services to the Ghana Armed Forces due to a staggering GHS275 million debt accumulated over 17 months. This alarming situation is part of a broader financial quagmire, with the Ministry’s total indebtedness ballooning to GHS3.7 billion.
The crisis was laid bare by Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, who revealed that food suppliers have been waiting for payment since August 2023. The Minister’s admission came during a parliamentary debate on the 2025 Budget, where he assured lawmakers that the Finance Ministry is taking steps to clear the arrears.
Dr. Boamah indicated that the gravity of the situation, noting that soldiers cannot be expected to perform their duties on empty stomachs. He expressed relief that the Finance Minister has pledged to settle the outstanding claims and develop a creative solution to tackle the massive debt.
The Defence Ministry’s financial woes extend far beyond the food suppliers, with significant debts owed to equipment suppliers, machinery providers, and other creditors. As the government scrambles to address the crisis, the fate of the Ghana Armed Forces’ food supplies hangs precariously in the balance.
