The Aristocrats Fraternity has joined the nation in mourning the eight gallant Ghanaians who lost their lives in the military helicopter crash at Sikakrom in Adansi in the Ashanti Region.
The tragedy occurred on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, when the deceased were attending the official launch of the Responsible Corporate Mining and Skills Development Program in Obuasi, Ashanti Region. The program aimed to enable miners to use proper methods to safeguard the environment.
The victims were Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Minister for Defense, Dr. Alhaji Murtala Mohammed, Minister for Environment, and six others including three military officers.
Speaking at the Jubilee House after laying their wreath on Sunday, August 10, Chairman of the Aristocrats Fraternity, Ohene Danquah Agyemang Duah, called on the government to provide the necessary resources for the military to fight the galamsey menace in the country.
According to him, when security agencies are well-equipped, eradicating galamseyers from destroying lands, forests, and polluting water bodies is feasible.
“These five government officials and the three Military officers died while on their way to Obuasi for the government’s programme launch to regularize the activities of the illegal mining in the country,” Ohene Duah highlighted.
Ohene Danquah Agyemang Duah, who doubles as a security expert, rejected the idea that President John Dramani Mahama should use the incident as a point of call to declare a State of Emergency on mining.
He explained that 1994 (Act 472) of the constitution specifies the procedure and conditions under which a State of Emergency can be declared, indicating that Ghana has not reached that stage.
He believes that if the government puts in place punitive measures and equips the military in this fight, galamsey would be a thing of the past.
Adding his voice to the long list of mourners nationwide, the Chairman of the Aristocrats Fraternity commiserated with Ghanaians and the bereaved families.
He commended Ghanaians for treating the incident as a national disaster and refraining from politicizing it.
Source// Obohnewsonline.com.
By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.
Obohnewsonline 