The Minister for Defence, Hon Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, comprehensively briefed on the mandate, operations, ongoing projects, and challenges facing the Defence Industries Holding Company Limited (DIHOC). The presentation was delivered by the Former Secretary of DIHOC, Brigadier General Benjamin Amoah-Boakye, at The Square.
In his presentation, Brigadier General Amoah-Boakye underscored the strategic foresight of the Military High Command, which recognised the need for the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to become more proactive in contributing to the national socio-economic landscape. This vision led to the establishment of DIHOC by the Ministry of Defence, in consultation with the Military High Command, as a vehicle to support industrial development.
DIHOC’s core mandate is to attract investment partnerships to establish industrial ventures in strategic sectors, including garment and footwear, automobile assembly and retrofitting, electrical and electronic engineering, healthcare infrastructure and pharmaceuticals, agro-processing, poultry and livestock, civil and mechanical engineering, and waste management.
He highlighted that two key projects currently in full operation are the Footwear Factory in Kumasi and the assembly of armoured bullion vans at Burma Camp. He also noted that while DIHOC has successfully engaged several developers for various projects, its limited financial capacity has constrained the company’s equity shareholding in these ventures. Land acquisition challenges from local communities were also identified as a significant barrier to progress.
In his response, Hon Dr Omane Boamah commended the Board of Directors for advancing an initiative that began sixteen years ago to its current stage of implementation. The Minister proposed a structural adjustment to the Board composition by recommending the inclusion of a business-oriented representative of the CDS. This, he stated, would ensure that the company remains focused on its commercial mission, regardless of changes in military leadership.
Addressing DIHOC’s financial constraints, the Minister encouraged the company to engage key financial institutions such as the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), Ghana EXIM Bank, Development Bank Ghana, and selected commercial banks. He emphasised the importance of equity participation to strengthen DIHOC’s stake in ongoing and future projects.
The Minister expressed optimism about DIHOC’s pipeline of projects, including vehicle retrofitting, bulletproof vehicle production, waste management systems, healthcare facilities, electronics and agri-business initiatives. He cautioned against duplication of developer efforts within the same sectors, warning that this could lead to inefficiencies and future legal or operational disputes. He reaffirmed his commitment to supporting DIHOC in ensuring that key projects become fully operational.
