The government has uncovered a case of ammunition theft within the Ghana Armed Forces, adding to growing concerns over the security of the country’s military stockpile following a separate, unexplained transfer of munitions earlier this year.
Defense Minister Edward Omane Boamah disclosed the findings during a recent visit to the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, part of a broader tour of key defense institutions. The minister said the theft predates a 2024 incident in which thousands of rounds of ammunition were transferred to the National Security Secretariat without proper documentation.
“Prior to the 2024 movement of ammunition, we have uncovered another instance of theft within the Ghana Armed Forces,” Dr. Boamah said. “We are investigating both cases thoroughly.”
The latest revelations come as the government intensifies efforts to address persistent chieftaincy-related violence, which officials say is exacerbated by the growing circulation of illicit arms among civilians.
“These munitions often end up in the hands of untrained individuals with dangerous motives,” Boamah warned.
The National Security Secretariat, now under the leadership of President John Mahama’s administration, has launched a formal investigation into the 2024 transfer, while the Ministry of Defense continues to probe the earlier internal breach.
Officials have not disclosed the quantity or types of ammunition involved, nor have they commented on whether any arrests have been made.
