Security analyst Prof. Kwesi Aning has sounded a strong warning over a major security lapse involving the disappearance of 40,000 rounds of ammunition from the Ministry of Defence’s armoury, which allegedly occurred just weeks before the previous administration left office on January 7, 2025.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Adom News, Prof. Aning, who serves as the Director of the Faculty of Academic Affairs and Research at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), confirmed that the late Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, personally disclosed the incident to him prior to his tragic death in a helicopter crash on August 6, 2025.
According to Prof. Aning, Dr. Boamah had raised internal concerns in July 2025 regarding the disappearance of thousands of rounds of ammunition that had been transferred from the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to the National Security Secretariat in 2024. The missing ammunition, he said, could not be accounted for after multiple internal checks. Dr. Boamah reportedly ordered an immediate investigation by the Secretariat, but it remains unclear how far the inquiry progressed before his death.
Describing the situation as “deeply troubling and a potential threat to Ghana’s national security and democratic stability,” Prof. Aning noted that such a large cache of missing bullets could easily find its way into the hands of criminal networks, political militias, or extremist groups, posing a grave danger to the country’s peace.
“We are conducting a comprehensive study to determine how many weapons and rounds of ammunition are currently outside state control,” Prof. Aning revealed. “There are millions of firearms in private hands, and this poses a serious danger—particularly in the lead-up to the 2026 elections.”
He expressed concern that the uncontrolled circulation of small arms could exacerbate violent crime, increase the risk of election-related violence, and erode public confidence in the ability of state institutions to maintain law and order.
Prof. Aning also criticized what he called the growing politicization of security institutions, asserting that political interference often prevents officers from performing their duties impartially.
“Public officials, fearful of losing their jobs, often fail to act when political actors break the law,” he said. “This weakens our institutions and jeopardises the peace we’ve worked so hard to maintain.”
In addition to his concerns about missing ammunition, the security expert condemned the illegal use of sirens by government appointees, private individuals, and some security officers. He emphasized that under Ghanaian law, only the President, Vice President, Speaker of Parliament, and Chief Justice are permitted to use sirens during official duties.
“What we’re witnessing is a clear disregard for the law by people who should be setting the example,” Prof. Aning stated. “It reflects how much we’ve strayed from accountability and discipline.”
He urged the current government to take decisive and transparent action to recover the missing ammunition, strengthen oversight of the security sector, and implement stricter controls over the movement and storage of weapons. He also recommended an independent parliamentary inquiry into the Defence Ministry’s inventory management systems to prevent future lapses.
Prof. Aning warned that the failure to act decisively could embolden criminal networks and undermine the country’s hard-earned reputation as one of West Africa’s most stable democracies.
“We cannot remain silent while weapons move freely and accountability weakens,” he cautioned. “The time to act is now—before our complacency turns into a national crisis.”
The revelation has since sparked widespread concern among security analysts, civil society groups, and political observers, many of whom are calling for an immediate multi-agency investigation to trace the missing ammunition and identify those responsible. The Ministry of Defence has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.