Security analyst Professor Kwesi Aning has confirmed reports that about 40,000 rounds of ammunition went missing from the Ministry of Defence’s armoury shortly before the previous administration exited office on January 7, 2025.

According to an Adomonline.com report on October 8, 2025, Professor] Aning revealed that the late Minister of Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, personally informed him about the incident.

Before his death in a helicopter crash on August 6, 2025, Dr Boamah had alleged in July 2025 that thousands of rounds of military ammunition transferred from the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to the National Security Secretariat in 2024 could not be traced.

Kwesi Aning advocates for measures to control easy access to firearms

He subsequently directed the secretariat to investigate the matter.

Professor Aning described the situation as ‘deeply troubling and a potential threat to Ghana’s national security and democratic stability.’

“We are conducting a comprehensive study to determine the number of weapons that are currently outside state control. There are millions of firearms in private hands, and this poses a serious danger, particularly in the lead-up to elections,” he said.

He further cautioned that the increasing number of gun-related incidents, coupled with political interference in law enforcement, was eroding public confidence in state institutions.

“Public officials, fearful of losing their jobs, often fail to act when political actors break the law. This weakens our institutions and jeopardises the peace we’ve worked so hard to maintain,” he stated.

The security expert also expressed frustration over the illegal use of sirens by some government appointees and security personnel, stressing that under Ghanaian law, only the president, vice president, Speaker of Parliament, and Chief Justice are permitted to use them.

“What we’re witnessing is a clear disregard for the law by people who should be setting the example. It reflects how much we’ve strayed from accountability and discipline,” he indicated.

Kwesi Aning advocates for measures to control easy access to firearms

Professor Aning urged the government to take immediate steps to address the proliferation of weapons and restore confidence in Ghana’s security architecture, warning that failure to act could push the nation toward instability.

“We cannot remain silent while weapons move freely and accountability weakens. The time to act is now,” he emphasised.

MRA/AE

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