Renowned Ghanaian playwright, author, motivational speaker, and artistic director at Roverman Productions, Ebo Whyte, has delivered a deeply personal tribute to the late Defence Minister, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, in the wake of Ghana’s tragic military helicopter crash on 6 August 2025.

Whyte captured the nation’s collective grief in his heartfelt Facebook post, beginning with the moment he learned of the crash and Dr Omane Boamah was named as one of the occupants: “Wednesday afternoon, my intercom rang… she said, ‘Uncle, breaking news, a military helicopter has crashed on its way to Obuasi.’ The news hit me hard..… Time froze for me.”

He reflected on a memorable encounter with Dr Omane Boamah at a book launch for "When Men Slept," where he proposed helping to edit and publish the minister’s memoirs. Dr Omane Boamah declined, not to reject the offer, but to protect Whyte’s apolitical credibility, remarking that collaborating could "taint" his impartial voice. Whyte described: “How rare it is for a politician to show such selflessness..… He didn’t want to exploit my voice. He wanted to protect it. That moment earned him my deepest respect.”

The veteran playwright went on to assert just how exceptional the minister was, not merely as a public servant, but as a man of character and promise. “Ghana has lost a true son. A leader. A potential president in Omane Boamah.”

The Crash That Shook Ghana

On the morning of 6 August 2025, a Ghana Armed Forces Z-9 helicopter took off from Accra at approximately 9:12 a.m., heading to Obuasi for a national assignment aimed at addressing illegal mining known locally as galamsey.

It disappeared from radar and was later found crashed and engulfed in flames in the dense forest of Adansi Akrofuom District, in the Ashanti Region.

All eight on board perished, including:

Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence
Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation
Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Limuna, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator
Dr Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the NDC
Samuel Aboagye, NADMO’s Deputy Director-General of Operations

Three Ghana Armed Forces crew: Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.

A Nation Mourns

Ghana has entered a period of profound grief. President John Dramani Mahama declared three days of national mourning, ordered flags flown at half-mast, and suspended official programmes.

A state funeral is scheduled for Friday, 15 August 2025, at Black Star Square, an evening of reflection is set for Saturday, 9 August, at the State House, while an official investigation is underway, with flight recorders recovered and a Board of Inquiry established.

Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson has been appointed acting Defence Minister, and the Environment portfolio will be temporarily handled by Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah.

A Lasting Legacy

For Ebo Whyte, Dr Omane Boamah was more than a statesman; he was a beacon of integrity and a future leader whose humility spoke volumes. His selfless refusal to compromise a respected voice by declining help on his memoir spoke to a rare commitment to principle.

"God is raising a crop of young people for this nation in leadership. I pray that God may protect everyone of them. May none of them lose their lives before their time. There is so much potential in some of the young people who have become stars in our politics. May God protect them. We need them. We can’t continue to lose wonderful people in this manner. I also pray that the Lord teach us to number our days. That we may live wisely. Love deeply. Serve you and our country wholeheartedly," Ebo Whyte concluded.

Profile of Omane Boamah

Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Ghana’s late Defence Minister, was a 50-year-old distinguished politician, medical doctor, and health policy expert with advanced training from the University of Ghana Medical School, the London School of Economics and Political Science, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and Harvard University.

Known for his solution-driven leadership and strategic negotiation skills, he blended medical expertise with deep knowledge in finance, information and communications technology, and environmental security.

He served as Minister for Communications and Presidential Spokesperson, championing cybersecurity initiatives such as Child Online Protection and leading the rollout of Ghana’s 4G LTE network for security agencies.

A former civilian employee of the Ministry of Defence, he was committed to national and human security, advocating for the welfare of service personnel. President Mahama appointed him Defence Minister in January 2025.