Honourable Kenneth Gilbert Agyei officially assumed office as Ghana’s substantive Minister of Defence following a memorable handing-over and taking-over ceremony held on Friday, 14 August 2026, at the forecourt of the Ministry of Defence.

The ceremony marked the formal transition of leadership from the Acting Minister for Defence, Honourable Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, to the newly appointed Minister. As part of the transition, the two Ministers signed the relevant documents to formally complete the handing-over process at the Defence Minister’s Office.

In his address, the new Minister of Defence described his return to the Ministry as a great honour and privilege, having previously served as Deputy Minister of Defence between 2015 and 2017.

He noted that his earlier experience at the Ministry gave him a deep appreciation of the professionalism, discipline, sacrifice and dedication demonstrated by the men and women of the Ghana Armed Forces.

Honourable Agyei expressed his gratitude to His Excellency John Dramani Mahama for entrusting him with the responsibility of leading the Ministry of Defence. He said he looked forward to working closely with the Deputy Minister, the Chief of the Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs, the Chief Director, Directors and all members of the Ministry.

According to him, national defence is a collective responsibility, stressing that no Minister, regardless of experience or capability, can effectively discharge the responsibilities of the Ministry without the cooperation and support of the entire defence establishment.

The Defence Minister further observed that Ghana’s security environment has changed considerably in recent times, describing the contemporary security landscape as more complex, interconnected and unpredictable than it was a decade ago.

He identified violent extremism and terrorism, transnational organised crime, illicit trafficking, maritime insecurity, cyber threats, disinformation and misinformation, illegal mining, as well as the potential spill-over effects of instability from the Sahel, as some of the emerging security challenges confronting the country and the region.

He also noted that rapid advances in technology, including artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, cyber capabilities, autonomous platforms and other emerging technologies, are transforming the character of conflict and the manner in which nations must prepare for their defence.

In his remarks, the outgoing Acting Minister of Defence, Honourable Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, expressed gratitude to His Excellency the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces for entrusting him with the responsibility of acting as Minister of Defence following the tragic helicopter crash of 6 August 2025.

He stated that he served in honour of those who lost their lives in the tragedy and in service to the Republic of Ghana.

Honourable Dr Forson emphasised the need for Ghana’s Defence to change its strategic posture, stressing that the future of defence cannot remain manpower-heavy but must become technology-led, intelligence-driven and agile.

He welcomed Honourable Kenneth Gilbert Agyei to the Ministry and expressed confidence that his previous experience as a Deputy Minister of Defence would provide a strong foundation for leading the Ministry.

He further stated that he leaves the Ministry with a deeper appreciation and respect for the sacrifice, discipline and professionalism of the Ghana Armed Forces.

In a welcome address, the Deputy Minister of Defence, Honourable Ernest Brogya Genfi, commended the outgoing Acting Minister for his commitment and dedication to the Ministry during his tenure.

He described the new Minister’s return to the Ministry as an advantage, noting that Honourable Agyei brings with him valuable experience gained from his immediate past role as Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, where he demonstrated strong leadership.

The ceremony brought together the Chief of the Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs, the Chief Director, Director of the Ministry, Senior Officers, Officers and Staff of the Ministry of Defence and the media.