Profile of Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah

Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Ghana's current Minister of Defence, was nominated for the position by President John Dramani Mahama on January 21, 2025.

The Medical Doctor and Health Policy and Financial Planning Analyst succeeded Mr. Dominic Nitiwul, who held the position in the previous administration.

Personal Information
Dr. Omane Boamah is an alumnus of Pope John Senior High School (POJOBA) and Minor Seminary in Koforidua, Eastern Region.

He graduated as a Medical Doctor from the University of Ghana Medical School and briefly attended Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

Dr. Omane Boamah holds a master’s degree in health policy planning and Financing from the London School of Economics and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

During his studies in Ghana, he was actively involved in student politics, serving as President of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) and Coordinating Secretary of the Federation of Ghana Medical Students Association (FGMSA).

Political Career
Dr. Omane Boamah has held various roles in Ghana's political landscape.

From 2009 to 2012, he served as Deputy Minister of Environment, Science, and Technology.

During the period, he chaired committees investigating the spillage of Low Toxicity Oil-Based Mud (LTOBM) and sodium cyanide by KOSMOS Energy and Newmont Ghana Gold Limited, respectively.

He also oversaw a nationwide tree-planting initiative to combat global warming and deforestation.

Dr. Omane Boamah later became the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) Deputy Campaign Coordinator during the 2012 general elections.

From 2012 to 2013, he served as Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports under the late President John Evans Atta-Mills.

In February 2013, President John Mahama appointed him as his spokesperson following the December 2012 general election.

As Minister for Communications, Dr. Omane Boamah championed child online protection and addressed cyber threats by establishing the National Computer Emergency Response Team and a National Committee on Child Online Protection to develop a national framework for safe internet use.

Other Appointments
Dr. Omane Boamah served on the Board of the Ghana AIDS Commission from 2014 to 2016, and as Vice Chair of the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (UNCSTD).

He was part of the World Health Organisation (WHO) volunteers who monitored the 2004 Expanded Programme on Immunisation in the Asuogyaman District and a member of the Medical Rescue Team during the “May 9, 2001, Stadium Disaster” in Accra.

He spearheaded the rollout of the Government of Ghana's 4G LTE Network (GOTA), enhancing communication for security agencies.

A former civilian employee at the Ministry of Defence, Dr. Omane Boamah has shown unwavering dedication to national defence and security.

He is a strong advocate for the welfare and dignity of military personnel.

His exceptional negotiation skills and innovative thinking make him well-suited to lead the Defence Ministry in addressing modern security challenges.

GNA