Security Analyst Samuel Owusu Appiah has urged the government to appoint a substantive defence minister, describing the move as “long overdue” amid increasing security challenges for Ghana.

His call follows the recent attack on Ghanaian tomato traders in Burkina Faso, an incident that exposed gaps in regional and national security coordination.

Speaking on Morning Starr with Naa Dedei Tettey on Thursday, February 19, 2026, Appiah highlighted the importance of strong leadership at the Defence Ministry, saying, “To get a defence minister to handle international intelligence, and all the other diplomatic intelligence that comes alongside Ghana’s defence structure” is crucial.

He further stressed the impact of such leadership on national planning, noting, “So that we are able to consolidate and know that we make decisions locally and foreign, it impacts whatever resources that we need to have as a nation.”

Appiah urged the president to act promptly, emphasising, “I believe Excellency the President should consider it as a matter of necessity as of now.”

According to the analyst, the appointment is not just administrative it is vital to ensure Ghana’s defence and intelligence systems operate with clarity, coordination, and strategic direction in a rapidly evolving security landscape.