Alfred Thompson, an aspiring National Treasurer for the New Patriotic Party, has raised concerns over Ghana’s prolonged vacancy at the Defence Minister position, warning it poses risks to national security.

Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana show with Moro Awudu on Tuesday, Thompson questioned why the critical post remains unfilled seven months after the tragic death of Defence Minister, Edward Omane Boamah in a helicopter crash last August.

“Seven months without a substantive Defence Minister is unacceptable amid recruitment drives,” he said, linking the delay to broader lapses in the National Democratic Congress government.

Since Boamah’s death, Finance Minister, Dr Casiel Forson has been acting in the role, a temporary arrangement that experts and the NPP’s communications team member say strains oversight and weakens the country’s security architecture.

The concerns are heightened by regional threats and recent deaths of Ghanaian traders in Burkina Faso, incidents critics argue could have been mitigated with stronger leadership.

Thompson also tied the leadership gap to ongoing recruitment efforts in the security services, warning that delays compromise vetting and preparedness.

He urged the government to appoint a substantive Defence Minister immediately and to ensure hiring is merit-based.

President John Mahama had pledged to name a replacement after Christmas 2025, but more than five months later, the post remains vacant, leaving critics increasingly uneasy about Ghana’s security readiness.