Good beads do not rattle.
There are people who speak about what they intend to do, and there are those who simply get on with the work.
Kenneth Gilbert Adjei has, over the years, struck me as the latter.
His appointment as Minister for Defence is therefore worth looking at beyond the usual political conversations that accompany ministerial appointments.
For me, the most interesting thing about Kenneth is not how much he talks, but how much he works. He is not the type who must always be heard to prove that he is working. He would rather understand the issues, engage the people involved and quietly pursue the task at hand.
That is not weakness. In public service, it can be a strength.
Kenneth Gilbert Adjei is not walking into the Ministry as a stranger. He previously served as Deputy Minister of Defence under the John Mahama administration between 2015 and 2017. He returns today with considerably broader experience, having served as Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, where he confronted some of the country’s difficult challenges in housing, flooding, water and infrastructure.
His academic background also adds to his profile. Beyond his studies in Marketing and an Executive MBA, he holds a Master of Arts in Peace, Security and Intelligence Management from UPSA, an area particularly relevant to the responsibilities before him.
The security environment has changed. Ghana must deal with terrorism concerns in the subregion, organised crime, maritime security, intelligence threats and the evolving demands of international peacekeeping. The Defence Minister therefore needs more than political experience. He needs an understanding of security, strategy and institutions.
As a practicing broadcast journalist, I have observed from a distance a man who is often unassuming, yet committed to delivering on his mandate.
At Works, Housing and Water Resources, he engaged agencies, officials and stakeholders and got involved in the issues confronting the sector. The problems were not always the kind that could be solved with speeches. They required patience, coordination and a willingness to return to the same table until something moved.
That, to me, is the Kenneth Gilbert Adjei I know.
He chooses to work than to talk.
And that is why I believe his appointment should not simply be viewed through the lens of who favoured him politically. His record deserves to speak for itself.
He also inherits a Ministry where his Deputy, Hon. Ernest Brogya Genfi, has diligently held the fort. Brogya Genfi has spent the past year engaging military institutions and personnel on issues including welfare, accommodation, recruitment, training, defence cooperation and operational readiness.
That work must not be discarded. It must be strengthened.
I am particularly encouraged by the cordial relationship already evident between the two, including Brogya Genfi’s warm congratulatory message following Kenneth’s appointment and his public expression of confidence in his substantive Minister.
Both men hail from the Ashanti Region, but more importantly, they bring different experiences to the table. Kenneth returns with previous Defence experience and broader ministerial exposure, while Brogya brings current institutional knowledge and experience within the Ministry.
If they maintain that spirit of cooperation, the Ministry can only benefit.
What matters is synergy, not competition.
An appointment is only the beginning. Kenneth will have to strengthen Ghana’s security partnerships, pay attention to intelligence, technology and logistics, and ensure that the welfare of the men and women who put their lives on the line for Ghana remains a priority.
I believe he is well prepared for the responsibility.
Some people are built for the microphone. Others are built for the meeting room. Others are at their best when the meeting is over and the real work begins.
I see Kenneth Gilbert Adjei in that last category.
When the time comes to assess him, let us not measure him by the number of interviews he has granted or the number of times he has appeared in the news. Let us measure him by the state of the Ministry he leaves behind.
I have an unshakable belief that he will not let us down, especially those of us from the South who look forward to seeing our own contribute meaningfully to the progress of the country.
Sometimes, the people who make the greatest impact are not the ones making the most noise.
Good beads do not rattle. They simply shine.
I acknowledge that lengthy opinion pieces are unlike me, but anticipate more of these series in the interest of God and country.
Kojo Marfo
(The Voice of the Voiceless)
