Obuasi Helicopter Crash: Sports Minister Condemns Galamseyers After Death of Dr Omane and 7 Others
- Sports Minister Hon. Kofi Adams has strongly criticised illegal miners following the tragic helicopter crash incident
- The incident sadly took the lives of eight individuals, including Dr Omane Boamah and Dr Murtala Mohammed
- President John Mahama has since declared three days of national mourning in honour of the victims
Minister for Sports and Recreation Kofi Adams Iddie has spoken out strongly against the scourge of illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, following the heartbreaking death of eight Ghanaians in a helicopter crash.
The minister's words carried the weight of grief and frustration as he aimed at those whose activities continue to wreak havoc on Ghana’s forests, rivers and now, innocent lives.
Source: Facebook
Sports Minister condemns galamseyers after helicopter crash
Speaking to TV3, Hon. Adams, who also represents the Buem Constituency in Parliament, made a powerful statement at the Accra residence of the late Dr Edward Omane Boamah.
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"They died fighting to stop a course which is galamsey. Shouldn't this be enough of a wake-up to all those who are involved in that business that enough is enough?" he asked, visibly emotional.
His remarks came as friends, colleagues, and sympathisers gathered to mourn with the bereaved family of the late Defence Minister.
Earlier, Adams, overwhelmed with emotion, was nearly in tears when he joined a high-powered government delegation to visit Dr Boamah's family home in the Eastern Region.
Source: Facebook
The purpose was to formally break the devastating news to the family, a moment described by eyewitnesses as heartbreaking.
The loss of Dr Edward Omane Boamah, who served as Ghana's Minister for Defence, alongside Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, and six other crew members, has shaken the nation to its core.
Recounting the Obuasi helicopter crash
On that fateful Wednesday, August 6, the eight individuals were on a journey to the Ashanti Region for the launch of a new government initiative.
The Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme, aimed at fighting illegal mining with sustainable alternatives.
According to the BBC, their aircraft, a Ghana Armed Forces Z-9 helicopter, took off from Accra but tragically vanished from radar shortly after departure.
The crash occurred near Adansi Akrofuom, turning a hopeful mission into a national disaster.
In the aftermath of the crash, the nation has been draped in mourning.
President John Dramani Mahama declared three days of national sorrow beginning Thursday, August 7, 2025. All flags are being flown at half-mast in honour of the lives lost, according to TRT Global.
Meanwhile, efforts are underway to send biological samples of the victims to South Africa for advanced DNA testing to assist with identification.
The President is also expected to address the country on Thursday evening at 2100 GMT, as Ghanaians grapple with what has already been described as one of the darkest days in the nation's history.
Football administrator mourns Dr Boamah
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that a respected football administrator had joined the rest of the nation in mourning the devastating loss of several top officials.
He recalled touching memories of Dr Omane Boamah’s significant influence on Ghanaian football before his tragic passing.
Source: YEN.com.gh
