The Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs has warned that government’s failure to tackle the menace of illegal mining, also known as ‘galamsey’, would render the sacrifice of the eight people who died in vain.
The House has urged the government to intensify its efforts in combating the canker to honour the memory of the eight individuals who lost their lives in the Wednesday, August 6, 2025, military helicopter crash.
The eight individuals, including two Cabinet Ministers and other government officials, as well as personnel from the Ghana Armed Forces, died while en route to Obuasi to launch a sustainable small-scale mining programme aimed at combating illegal mining.
The Regional House of Chiefs, speaking after signing the book of condolence at the Ministry of Defence on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, cautioned that failure to address environmental terrorism would render the sacrifice of the deceased statesmen and soldiers meaningless, implying their efforts would be undermined.
“If we cannot deal with this holistically, once and for all, then these gallant soldiers died for nothing. We should all rise and deal with galamsey,” President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, Nii Odaifio Welentse III, stated.
Those who lost their lives in the crash were Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Alhaji Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed (MP), Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Limuna, Dr. Samuel Sarpong, Mr. Samuel Aboagye, Squadron Leader Peter Baafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah — all of whom, the House noted, served Ghana with distinction and dedication.
Aside from Alhaji Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed and Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Limuna, who were buried on Sunday, August 10, the remaining victims will be laid to rest on Friday, August 15, 2025.
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