Former Government Spokesperson on Governance and Security, Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to urgently appoint a Minister of Defence, warning that the President is losing grip on the country’s security.
Speaking on Breakfast Daily on Channel One TV on Monday, September 22, 2025, Dr. Boakye-Danquah said recent violent incidents and intelligence he has gathered point to a deteriorating security situation.
“There have been pocket of clashes everywhere. Do you know that this pocket of clashes will not end because the solutions have not meted out and I will state it again… on the 10th September in Sampa in Bono people died, Tamale technical, some people died, just yesterday in Kukurantumi, where next? We are not safe in this country and the more I receive intelligence from the east of this country, the west of this country, the south and north of this country, I don’t think that the president is in charge, he is almost losing grip of the security situation in the country,” he said.
He stressed that the situation would persist if the President does not quickly appoint a Defence Minister to restore order, noting that the police appear overstretched.
“Do you know that this pocket of clashes will not end because the solutions have not been meted out… He must immediately appoint a minister for defence, designate, call parliamentary committee to vet that person, so that security can be in place well. The Police seem to be overwhelmed by the situation that is happening,” he added.
His comments follow violent confrontations in Kukurantumi between the youth and the police after a suspect, identified as Bright, died in custody.
The irate youth accused a police officer of allegedly assaulting the suspect after he was arrested during a swoop for substances suspected to be Indian hemp.
