The ministry has had a succession of ministers since independence, starting with the Governor-General. During the rule of the
Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, there was no specific minister as the council as a body was responsible for Defence. During the years of military rule, the official in charge of the Ministry of Defence was often the Head of state. Thus,
Lt General J. A..Ankrah,
Lt. General A. A. Afrifa were in charge of the Ministry during the
National Liberation Council era between 1966 and 1969. Between 1972 and 1979,
General I. K. Acheampong and
Lt. General F. W. K. Akuffo took charge of the Ministry under the
National Redemption Council and the
Supreme Military Council. The
Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) under
Flt. Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings was the first military government not to have the Head of state head the ministry. The
Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) military government appointed civilian ministers to head the ministry.
Mahama Iddrisu has served longest in this office. He was the Minister of Defence for the last seven years of the military rule of the PNDC from 1985 to January 1993. He then continued as the first Minister to be appointed in the NDC government of the Fourth republic by Jerry Rawlings from January 1993 to February 1999, an additional six years making a total of fourteen years. ==See also==