The Defence Minister, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, has called on Ghanaians to recognise and appreciate the sacrifices of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), empha­sising that their dedication is the key reason for the nation’s peace and stability.

Dr Boamah made the remarks during his maiden interaction with members of the Defence Press Corps (DPC) in Accra on Monday.

The Defence Minister urged Ghanaians to support and respect the Armed Forces, highlighting their contribu­tions beyond combat roles. He cited instances where military engineers have provided rapid solutions to infrastructure challenges, such as bridge construction for isolated com­munities.

“Our soldiers work tire­lessly, often behind the scenes, to ensure national security. Their role in disaster response, peacekeeping, and infrastructure development must be recognised and ap­preciated,” Dr Boamah added.

The Minister also highlight­ed the government’s resolve to complete all ongoing mili­tary infrastructure projects, some of which dates back to 2010.

He stressed the need to cultivate a culture of finishing existing projects before em­barking on new ones, noting that proper financing should always be secured to prevent project abandonment.

“We must learn to com­plete projects as much as possible. When financing is unclear, projects remain un­finished, which should not be the case,” Dr Boamah stated.

He also mentioned inno­vative financing strategies, including leveraging climate funds for infrastructure projects that contribute to environmental sustainability, such as transitioning to ener­gy-efficient lighting systems in military installations.

Addressing the housing deficit within the armed forc­es, Dr Boamah disclosed that the military requires about 17,000 additional housing units. He discussed various strategies, including potential public-private partnerships (PPPs) and mixed housing models, where some person­nel may be deliberately inte­grated into civilian communi­ties to enhance security while maintaining a strong presence in the barracks.

“There are advantages when security personnel live among civilians, as it deters crime. However, we must also maintain a significant stand­by force within the barracks to ensure rapid deployment when necessary,” he ex­plained.

Dr Boamah expressed con­cern over the devastating ef­fects of illegal mining (galam­sey) on Ghana’s environment, particularly water bodies. He revealed that pollution levels in some areas have reached unprecedented levels, making water treatment extremely difficult.

“The Ghana Armed Forces is ready and willing to assist the government in addressing environmental challenges. We need a collective effort to combat the illegal mining menace,” he said.

 By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu