Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has revealed the late Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah’s firm commitment to tackling illegal mining, saying he had the full backing of President John Mahama to deploy the military against galamsey operators.
Speaking on The Point of View on Monday, August 11, 2025, Mr. Ablakwa said the nation lost a visionary leader who could have significantly transformed Ghana’s fight against the illegal mining menace.
“We have really lost people who had so much prospects, could have really changed the destiny of our country,” he said. “Look, I have no doubt that Dr. Omane Boamah would have solved this galamsey crisis.”
He recalled private conversations with the late Defence Minister, who was resolute in his decision to deploy troops without compromise.
“He told me, ‘Look, the Military will be deployed, I’m deploying them. I’m getting calls — sometimes he will show you who is calling — and it could be National Executive, Regional Executive. I’m not minding you. I’m not going to engage in any pretense. What we do in private is different from what we’re telling the public, No! These troops are in harm’s way, risking their lives and you want us to cut political deals? No, I won’t be part of that.’”
Mr. Ablakwa added that Dr. Omane Boamah had conveyed this stance clearly to President Mahama, who gave his full blessings.
“President Mahama said, ‘Look, you have my full blessings, go ahead!’” he said.
The late Defence Minister was among eight people who died in the tragic August 6 military helicopter crash in the Ashanti Region.
The helicopter crash on Wednesday, August 6, claimed the lives of Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence, and Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation.
Others confirmed dead were Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Samuel Aboagye, former parliamentary candidate; and Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The crew members who perished were Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
Earlier, the Ghana Armed Forces reported that the Z-9 helicopter, carrying three crew members and five passengers, had gone “off the radar.”
The aircraft departed Accra at 09:12 local time (GMT) and was heading to Obuasi for an anti-illegal mining event. Its disappearance triggered an immediate search-and-rescue operation, which later confirmed that all eight people aboard had died.
Source:Fiilafmonline/CitiNews
