Chief Executive Officer of the Consumer Protection Agency (CPA), Kofi Owusu Hene, popularly known as Kofi Kapito, has argued that the Defence Ministry should be headed by someone with a strong security background, describing the sector as too sensitive to be led by civilians without specialised training.
According to him, the military operates within a unique professional culture and language that requires deep understanding and experience.
Speaking on Joy News and monitored by NewsDesksGH on February 4, Kofi Kapito said, “If I had my way the defence ministry should have somebody worth a security background because that’s a specialized area, they speak a different language. The military speaks a different language.”
He expressed concern about the frequent appointment of civilians to head key security ministries, warning that it could weaken national security structures.
“It worries me when we keep putting civilians, we put doctors, we put doctors. We put other people in,” he said.
Kofi Kapito further noted that leadership without a security foundation could expose the country to risks, particularly in engagements with international counterparts.
“We try to make some sensitive oo routine a little bit weak, and that is my worry. Like the minister for the Interior, because maybe we’ve been lucky that we put a few civilians there and we’ve managed to survive,” he said.
He added, “That is some area that you cannot joke with. Even if you go to meet your counterparts, there are certain languages that you need to speak.”
He further stressed his discomfort with non-security professionals overseeing defence and interior matters.
“I get scared when I see non security based persons heading interior and defence because it’s a very very sensitive area.”
The call comes amid growing pressure for the appointment of a substantive Defence Minister. In November 2025, President John Dramani Mahama announced that a permanent Defence Minister would be appointed in early 2026.
The position became vacant following the death of Dr. Edward Omane Boamah in the tragic helicopter crash on August 6, 2025.
Since then, the Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has been serving as Acting Minister for Defence.
On February 3, 2026, the Minority in Parliament, led by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, mounted pressure on the President to make an immediate nomination, arguing that the Finance Minister is overburdened and that the Defence Ministry requires permanent leadership to respond to rising regional security threats.
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin also called for a swift appointment to ensure effective military planning and leadership.
While public speculation has mentioned names such as Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, no official nomination has been made.
