President John Dramani Mahama, Commander-In-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, on Friday, January 23, 2026, commissioned a new fleet of vehicles for the military as part of the government’s broader modernisation agenda.
The vehicles, which include pickup trucks, buses and Land Cruisers, are expected to improve mobility and boost the operational efficiency of the Ghana Armed Forces. The commissioning ceremony took place during the 2025 West African Soldiers’ Social Activity (WASSA) at the Ghana Armed Forces Headquarters at Burma Camp in Accra.
WASSA is an annual event that brings together members of the security services, offering them the opportunity to interact, unwind and appreciate one another after months of demanding service.
“This is just the first phase of vehicles that the Armed Forces are to receive,” the Commander-In-Chief said.
President Mahama disclosed that government plans were far advanced to procure additional military assets, including armoured personnel carriers, strategic drones and advanced communication systems. These acquisitions will support the establishment of Ghana’s first state-of-the-art Cyber and Electronic Warfare Centre in the northern sector of the country.
He said the facility would be located at the Tamale Air Force Base.
“This Centre will be responsible for maintaining surveillance of our borders and also will have an assault capacity in the event that our country comes under any attack,” he said.
The President further announced that additional equipment would be acquired for the Armed Forces, including offshore patrol vessels for the Ghana Navy, four brand new Eurocopter helicopters for the Ghana Air Force and a new executive jet for the Air Force to support official travel by government executives, including himself, as well as other critical military logistics.
President Mahama also revealed that government has taken a strategic decision to establish two new military units in the Oti and Central Regions. He said the move reflects emerging security dynamics and the need to strengthen the country’s national response framework.
Touching on manpower, the President said the ongoing recruitment exercise, which began in 2025, is aimed at increasing the strength of the Ghana Armed Forces by 12,000 personnel over the next four years to enhance operational capacity and long-term sustainability.
During his address, President Mahama expressed condolences to families affected by the tragic stampede that occurred at the El-Wak Stadium during the recent recruitment exercise.
“Let me once again express our nation’s deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of our youth who died in the stampede at El-Wak Stadium during the recent recruitment exercise,” he said.
“May their souls find peaceful repose in heaven and for those who were injured in the exercise, I wish them a speedy recovery.”
He added that the Military High Command had set up a Board of Inquiry to investigate the incident and make recommendations to prevent a recurrence.
“We await the Board of Inquiry’s final report,” he stated.
On the welfare of military personnel, President Mahama said the wellbeing of officers and their families remains a top priority for his administration. He expressed full support for initiatives such as the Mutual Health Fund for service personnel, which is aimed at improving access to healthcare and enhancing financial security.
According to him, seed funding for the Welfare Trust Fund would be provided by the National Security Secretariat. He also acknowledged the contribution of Kofi Appiah, Chief Executive Officer of Day Ventures, for supporting the initiative.
The President stressed that the strength of any armed force lies in the professionalism, motivation and welfare of its personnel. He reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the Ghana Armed Forces are adequately resourced, well trained and properly equipped to meet both present and future security challenges.
He further announced progress on the construction of forward operating bases across the country.
“I am happy to announce that two of these facilities in the northern part of the country are ready for commissioning,” he said.
He added that sufficient funding has been allocated in the current budget to complete four additional forward operating bases before the end of the year.
President Mahama said the facilities will serve as the first line of defense against infiltration and extremist threats, while significantly improving operational readiness, logistics support and rapid response capabilities nationwide.
