Ghana’s ex-ambassador to the Netherlands, Dr Tony Aidoo, has warned President John Mahama to urgently end the galamsey menace before it claims more members of his cabinet.

Speaking on Newsfile on Saturday, August 9, he linked last Wednesday’s fatal helicopter crash — which claimed the lives of eight people, including two cabinet ministers — directly to the government’s fight against illegal mining.

“To be frank, I had a personal connection with only three of the unfortunate victims of the helicopter crash — Dr Omane Boamah and Dr Sarpong and Dr Murtala Mohammed,” he said.

“Anytime I remember the departed, it is usually with teary eyes, but I am not here to eulogise nor to pay another apologetic tribute. This will be a very tiny voice among the worldwide tributes following the avoidable national tragedy.”

The former Senior Presidential Aide stressed that the deaths were not an act of God but the result of human failings.

“Even though faith says we must eulogise the dead, we must look behind and look for the cause — why did they die? People will say, ‘Oh, the Lord gave us and the Lord takes.’ I say that God did not take. It was we who gave by our mistake of an avoidable death.”

The crash claimed the lives of Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah, former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye, NDC Vice Chairman Dr Samuel Sarpong, and three crew members — Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.

“Why were they in the air? They were in the air because they were going to fight galamsey,” Dr Aidoo said.

“President Mahama must kill the galamsey menace before it ends his members [of cabinet].”

He added that the most fitting tribute to the victims would be to act immediately.

“God gives, yes, but God does not take innocent lives. People die by their own destruction or by lifestyle. What is President Mahama waiting for? Yesterday, I heard Kwame Mpianim say we must ban galamsey for three months.

"In fact, my first reaction after the Chief of Staff gave us the details and confirmed the death was to send the message directly to President Mahama, and I said these eight patriotic souls lost their lives in the fight against galamsey.

"So for God’s sake, Mr President, don’t let them die in vain. Stop the galamsey now. That’s the best tribute we can say to these patriotic deaths.”