The Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, has announced that the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) will lead the construction of the 180-kilometre Awaso-Takoradi road—Ghana’s major bauxite transport corridor—in a collaborative effort with the Ghana Bauxite Company.
Speaking at the latest edition of the Government Accountability Series held at the Jubilee House on Monday, July 21, 2025, Dr. Boamah explained that the project will be a strategic partnership between the military and the mining company, aimed at restoring a key national asset that has suffered years of degradation due to intense heavy-duty vehicular activity.
“The Ghana Armed Forces is currently working with the Ghana Bauxite Company to undertake road works on the Awaso-Takoradi corridor, which is the critical route used for moving Ghana’s bauxite to the Takoradi Port,” he stated.
“This project demonstrates the military’s capacity in engineering and its enduring role in national development.”
According to Dr. Boamah, the Defence Industries Holding Company (DIHOC), the commercial wing of the Armed Forces, will spearhead the implementation of the project.
He indicated that more details about the agreement and a formal groundbreaking ceremony will be made public in the coming weeks.
The Defence Minister emphasized that this initiative is just one of several national projects the GAF will be engaged in.
He revealed that DIHOC will also be involved in the construction of the six-lane Accra-Kumasi Expressway, a flagship infrastructure project announced by President John Dramani Mahama during his recent visit to the Ashanti Region.
“With the advent of a 24-hour economy, who better to trust with the execution of crucial infrastructure than the Ghana Armed Forces, an institution with proven discipline, capacity, and commitment?” Dr. Boamah noted.
On the subject of food security, Dr. Boamah outlined plans by DIHOC to engage in extensive mechanised farming under the Feed Ghana initiative.
He explained that the military’s contribution to agriculture will help safeguard the nutritional needs of service members while supporting national food security targets.
He also took the opportunity to caution the public against fraudsters engaged in military recruitment scams. While most of the criminal networks operate outside the service, he acknowledged that a few internal collaborators have aided such schemes.
He stressed that the Ghana Armed Forces is committed to rooting out such misconduct to preserve the institution’s integrity.
“The Ghana Armed Forces must remain a force of excellence, integrity, and national cohesion,” he said, assuring the public that reforms and vigilance remain ongoing to uphold high standards within the military.
