Helicopter crash: Dr. Apaak mourns Omane Boamah, Murtala, six others, calls for probe

 

Deputy Education Minister, Dr. Clement Apaak, has expressed deep sorrow over the helicopter crash on August 6, 2025, which claimed eight lives.

Dr. Apaak, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Builsa, was in a somber mood as he recalled his memories with some of the victims, including Dr. Omane Boamah, Dr. Murtala Mohammed, and Mr. Samuel Sarpong.

“Omane, bro, I called him, and he would respond, ‘bro.’ Only a week ago, he sent me documents from a teacher who had reached out to him about the delay in getting a staff ID. I promised to take it up with GES. He responded, grateful, bro. Oh, my bro.

“Murtala, my troublesome younger brother I called him, and he would respond, ‘my big brother.’ He would then proceed to announce to everyone in the vicinity, ‘Do you know that Dr. Apaak is the President of the Global Association of Dog Meat Eaters?’ Who will announce my most cherished title now?

“Limuna, my playmate he would usually call me ‘my slave’ [It’s a Gonja and Builsa thing]. He called me, as he usually did, a week ago to check up on me. He informed me that he would come to my office to discuss and introduce a representative of an international NGO interested in supporting education in Ghana. I told him I would give him a date. My master is gone.

“Dr. Samuel Sarpong I called him ‘Senior,’ and he would respond, ‘Doc.’ We attended this year’s June 4th celebrations together. We were seated close to each other. He, Dr. Duffour, and I used our presence at the event to discuss some crucial issues and decided to formalise the ideas that came up. Senior, what happens to our ideas?”

The deputy minister also called for a national tribute, a thorough investigation into the crash, and renewed efforts to fight illegal mining (galamsey) in their honour.

“We must never forget the dedicated service these gallant eight gave to our nation. We owe them a duty to get to the bottom of what caused this painful national tragedy. Their sacrifice must spur us on to win the fight against galamsey.”

Below is the full text

It hurts badly!

Like many comrades, I’m distraught and saddened. I hope to muster the strength to lay flowers in  memory of our gallant 8 and to attend the remembrance event at the forecourt of the state house.

Omane, bro, I called him, and he will respond, bro. Only a week ago, he sent me documents of a teacher who reached out to him on the delay in getting a staff ID. I promised to take it up with GES. He responded, grateful bro. Oh my bro.

Multala, my troublesome younger brother, I called him. He will respond, my big brother. He would then proceed to announce to everyone in the vicinity that “do you know that Dr. Apaak is the President of the Global Association of Dog Meat Eaters.” Who will announce my most cherished title?

Limuna, my playmate. He will usually call me, my slave [It’s a Gonja and Builsa thing]. He called me as he usually did a week ago to check up on me. He informed me that he would come to my office to discuss and introduce a representative of an international NGO interested in supporting education in Ghana. I told him I would give him a date. My master is gone.

Dr. Samuel Sarpong, I called him Senior, and he will respond, Doc. We attended this year’s June 4th celebrations together. We were seated close to each other. He, Dr. Duffour and I used our presence at the event to discuss some crucial issues and decided to formalise the ideas that came up. Senior, what happens to our ideas?

We must never forget the dedicated service these gallant 8 gave to our nation. We owe them a duty to get to the bottom of what caused this painful national tragedy. Their sacrifice must spur us on to win the fight against galamsey.

It hurts badly!