President John Dramani Mahama has reassigned Kenneth Gilbert Adjei to the Ministry of Defence as part of executive adjustments announced on Friday, August 7, 2026.
The appointment sees Mr. Adjei transition from his previous role as the Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources to step into the critical security portfolio.
The official press release, signed by the Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, indicated that Member of Parliament for Banda, Ahmed Ibrahim, will take over the Works, Housing and Water Resources portfolio left by Adjei.
Kenneth Gilbert Adjei brings familiar expertise back to the sector, having previously served as Ghana’s Deputy Minister for Defence between 2015 and 2017 during President Mahama’s earlier administration.
Hailing from Trede in the Ashanti Region and an alumnus of Opoku Ware School, Adjei holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from GIMPA, an Executive MBA from the University of Ghana Business School, and a Master of Arts in Peace, Security and Intelligence Management from the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).
His background combines strategic risk management experience with specialized research in defense strategies.
The Defence Ministry portfolio had remained vacant following the tragic passing of Dr Edward Omane Boamah, who died in a military helicopter crash on August 6, 2025, in the Adansi District of the Ashanti Region while travelling to Obuasi for an anti-illegal mining operation.
This is coming after President John Dramani Mahama reshuffled two ministers and appointed two new ones, after one year, eight months in office in his second term as President.
The changes made in accordance with Article 78(1) of the 1992 Constitution are to find replacements for Dr Edward Omane Boamah and Dr Murtala Mohammed, who died in a military helicopter crash on August 6, 2025.
Dr Zanetor Agyeman Rawlings, the Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle has also been nominated for appointment as Minister of Environment, Science and Technology in President John Dramani Mahama’s first reshuffle in his second term.
The new names, those of Dr Zanetor Agyeman Rawlings and Mahama Ayariga have been submitted to Parliament for approval before appointment.
