The family of the late Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, former Minister of Defence, has made a heartfelt appeal to the Government of Ghana, requesting special recruitment slots in the national security services for qualified members of the families who lost loved ones in August’s tragic helicopter crash.
The appeal was presented as a tangible way for the nation to acknowledge the ultimate sacrifice made by Dr. Boamah and the seven other high-ranking officials who perished.
A Plea for Tangible Recognition
Speaking to journalists in Accra this week, Omane Yaw Acheampong, an uncle of the late Minister, described Dr. Boamah as the family’s “hope, icon, provider, and breadwinner.” He revealed that the former Minister was financially supporting numerous relatives and had promised to help several qualified but unemployed youth in the family find work.
“Our humble appeal is for the government to consider allocating some recruitment slots in the security services, or any government agency, to the families of the eight statesmen who died in that tragic crash,” Acheampong stated.
He emphasized that such a gesture would “be a clear demonstration that the state values the sacrifices of its servants and intends to care for those they left behind.”
The family believes this form of support would not only provide for the bereaved but also boost patriotism and reassure all public servants that their service to the nation is valued.
A Lasting Memorial in STEM
In addition to the request for employment opportunities, the family is also urging the government to establish a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) training facility in Effiduase, Koforidua.
They propose that this centre would serve as a fitting and permanent memorial to Dr. Boamah’s versatile legacy as a dedicated public servant, physician, and scientist.
Background of the Tragedy
On August 6, 2025, a Ghana Air Force Harbin Z-9 helicopter carrying eight officials to an anti-galamsey engagement crashed in a mountainous forest in the Ashanti Region. There were no survivors.
Dr. Omane Boamah was a prominent member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and a medical doctor by profession. He held several key government positions, including Minister of Communications and Presidential Spokesperson, before his appointment as Minister of Defence on February 1, 2025.
