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President John Dramani Mahama is under increasing pressure to appoint a permanent Defence Minister nearly five months after Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson took on acting responsibilities following the death of Dr. Edward Omane Boamah in an August 6, 2025 helicopter crash.

Governance analyst Franklin Cudjoe urged Mahama to make a permanent appointment to allow Forson to focus on fiscal responsibilities. The crash, which killed eight people, including the Defence Minister, occurred when a Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter went off radar shortly after departing Accra.

Ato Forson was appointed acting Defence Minister on August 7 while retaining his Finance role. Ernest Brogya Genfi has emerged as a leading candidate for the permanent position, with James Agalga and Halen Adjoa Ntoso also considered. The Defence Ministry continues to function under Forson's leadership, with ongoing initiatives for military modernization and welfare improvements.