The Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, has donated essential food supplies to the Ghana Armed Forces in appreciation of their service and sacrifices.

The donation, which includes staple food items, aims to boost the morale of the country’s troops.

The items presented comprise 5,000 five-kilogram bags of rice, 6,255 bottles of cooking oil, 4,800 tins of mackerel, and 4,800 tins of tomatoes.

This support is expected to alleviate some of the logistical challenges faced by the military in feeding its personnel.

Dr. Boamah also expressed gratitude to Entrepreneur and Philanthropist Ibrahim Mahama of Dzata Cement fame for his support in this initiative.

In a related development, Parliament has approved a budget of over GHC 6 billion for the Ministry of Defence. Dr. Boamah, accompanied by his Deputy Minister, Brogya Genfi, the Chief Director, and Service Chiefs, was present in Parliament to move the motion for approval.

He extended his appreciation to the leadership and members of the Defence, Interior, and Security Committee for their support.

A significant portion of the approved budget will enable the Ministry of Finance to settle the 17-month-old debt of GHC 275 million owed to food suppliers who provide essential food items to the Ghana Armed Forces. The debt, accumulated from August 2023 to December 2024 under the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration, had placed a financial strain on suppliers.

To address food security concerns within the Armed Forces and reduce the cost of procuring food items, the Defence Ministry is set to introduce mechanized farming.

This initiative is expected to not only sustain the military’s food supply but also contribute to reducing inflation by increasing local food production.

Dr. Boamah emphasized the government’s commitment to resolving existing challenges while ensuring that the Armed Forces remain well-equipped and motivated.

“We are solving the problems, and we shall remind Ghanaians, lest we forget,” he stated.