MP calls for galamsey crackdown as tribute to fallen ministers on crash anniversary

On the first anniversary of Ghana's devastating helicopter crash, Akuapem North Member of Parliament Sammy Awuku has urged the government to deliver the most meaningful tribute to those who died: a decisive end to illegal mining operations across the country.

The Ghana Armed Forces Z-9 helicopter crashed on August 6, 2025, in the Adansi Akrofuom District of Ashanti Region, killing eight people, including Defence Minister Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed. A national inter-faith memorial service was held at the University of Professional Studies, Accra, on Thursday to remember the victims and their service to the nation.

Mr Awuku made his remarks after the New Patriotic Party presented a petition to the Presidency during a "Democracy Under Attack" demonstration on the anniversary. His comments sparked debate about the appropriateness of holding a political protest on the same day as the memorial service, but the MP defended the move, arguing that focusing on the deceased ministers' core priorities would be the truest honour.

Environmental legacy of the fallen ministers

Both Dr Omane Boamah and Dr Muhammed were involved in efforts to protect Ghana's natural resources, making galamsey—the scourge of illegal artisanal mining—a fitting focus for remembrance. The practice has ravaged water bodies, destroyed farmland, and poisoned communities across Ghana for years, despite repeated government pledges to tackle it.

Mr Awuku argued that the late Defence Minister, had he survived, would have been appalled by the continued degradation of Ghana's lands and water resources through uncontrolled illegal mining. "If this government wanted to honour the memory of Dr Edward Omane Boamah, my brother Murtala Mohammed, and the other lives that perished, they should have doubled their effort in combating and stopping galamsey," the MP stated.

The lawmaker's remarks carry particular weight given the persistence of galamsey despite numerous enforcement campaigns. His intervention suggests that August 6 should prompt not just remembrance, but renewed governmental action on environmental protection—a cause the fallen ministers championed.

Why it matters for Ghana

The helicopter crash and its ongoing aftermath remain symbolically important to Ghanaians. The loss of two senior cabinet ministers in one incident shocked the nation and raised questions about government operations and accountability. However, Mr Awuku's framing shifts focus from the tragedy itself to what the deceased ministers stood for.

For ordinary Ghanaians—especially those in mining-affected regions—the fight against galamsey is deeply personal. Illegal mining has poisoned drinking water, destroyed cocoa farms, and created environmental health crises in communities nationwide. By tying a galamsey crackdown to the ministers' memory, Awuku is making a broader case that national development priorities should honour public servants' legacies.

The government's actual record on illegal mining remains contested. While authorities have conducted several operations and arrests, critics argue that enforcement remains inconsistent and that powerful actors sometimes escape accountability. A renewed, sustained commitment would test whether the government views environmental protection as a genuine priority or merely a rhetorical one.

The road ahead

As Ghana continues to grapple with the environmental cost of galamsey, the anniversary provides an opportunity to evaluate progress and reset priorities. Mr Awuku's call suggests that this moment should not pass with ceremonies alone, but with concrete policy action that reflects the values and work of those who died.