A controversy is raging within the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) over missing funds intended for military procurement, with a top army official justifying the use of the money for other purposes.
A petition submitted to the then-Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Vice Admiral Seth Amoama, raised concerns over the whereabouts of the funds, which were meant for a military uniform procurement deal.
When queried, the then-Chief of Army Staff, Major General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, reportedly claimed that he had used the money to take care of the children of the late businessman, Prince Daron Obasa.
Obasa, who had facilitated the uniform procurement, had secured a loan from a Nigerian bank using a Ghana Army guarantee. However, despite the items being supplied, the bank claims it was never paid, prompting it to file a lawsuit against the Ghana Army to recover the US$250,000 owed.
The Ghana Army acted as a guarantor for the loan and promised to pay the bank for the bank to pay the late Obasa which the Ghana Army duly signed.
Obasa died in 2021 in Nigeria with body to Ghana for burial.
However, then Major General Oppong-Peprah and his Service Financial Controller, then Lieutenant Colonel Michael Adusei Nkrumah, claimed that the money had already been paid to Obasa—an assertion later proven false.
When the bank petitioned CDS Admiral Seth Amoama over the missing funds, he demanded answers from Oppong-Peprah. It was at this point that Oppong-Peprah reportedly admitted that the money had not been paid to Obasa but was instead allegedly being “invested” in Obasa’s children, who were living with him.
This revelation intensified scrutiny, with observers questioning whether military funds should be diverted for personal welfare, regardless of the circumstances.
The situation worsened when it emerged that then Major General Oppong-Peprah and then Lieutenant Colonel Michael Adusei Nkrumah had allegedly misled military lawyers into filing a vigorous defense against the bank’s lawsuit. Nkrumah reportedly provided fictitious and forged documents to the court in an attempt to justify the missing funds, further complicating the legal battle.
The missing funds have raised serious questions about financial management within the military, with growing calls for accountability in the handling of military finances.
When DAYBREAK reached out to Colonel Kofi Awuah Ameyaw, he declined comments.
