Accra: Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Ghana's Minister of Defence, was nominated for the position by President John Dramani Mahama on January 21, 2025. A Medical Doctor and Health Policy and Financial Planning Analyst, Dr. Omane Boamah succeeded Mr. Dominic Nitiwul, who held the position in the previous administration.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Omane Boamah is an alumnus of Pope John Senior High School 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 and Coordinating Secretary of the Federation of Ghana Medical Students Association.
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, where he chaired committees investigating environmental incidents involving KOSMOS Energy and Newmont Ghana Gold Limited. He also oversaw a nationwide tree-planting initiative to combat global warming and deforestation. Later, he became the National Democratic Congress's Deputy Campaign Coordinator during the 2012 general elections, and from 2012 to 2013, he served as Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports.
In February 2013, President John Mahama appointed Dr. Omane Boamah as his spokesperson following the December 2012 general election. As Minister for Communications, Dr. Omane Boamah led initiatives on child online protection and addressed cyber threats by establishing the National Computer Emergency Response Team and a National Committee on Child Online Protection.
Dr. Omane Boamah also 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. He was part of the World Health Organisation volunteers who monitored the 2004 Expanded Programme on Immunisation and a member of the Medical Rescue Team during the 'May 9, 2001, Stadium Disaster' in Accra. His work includes spearheading the rollout of the Government of Ghana's 4G LTE Network, enhancing communication for security agencies.
A former civilian employee at the Ministry of Defence, Dr. Omane Boamah has shown dedication to national defence and security, advocating for the welfare and dignity of military personnel. His negotiation skills and innovative thinking are considered assets in leading the Defence Ministry in addressing modern security challenges.
