The Ministry of Defence has paid glowing tribute to the late Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, describing his death in the August 6 military helicopter crash as a devastating blow to the nation and the loss of a true leader.

Speaking on behalf of the Ministry’s management team during the memorial and reflection night at the Forecourt of the State House on Saturday, August 9, Colonel Ernestina Assan expressed deep sorrow over the minister’s untimely passing.

“What a great shock — death laid its icy hands on you. Your plans for the country have all been shattered,” she said, reflecting on the initiatives Dr. Boamah had championed before his sudden death.

Colonel Ernestina remembered the late minister as the embodiment of genuine leadership — kind, humble, and ever-smiling. She praised his unique ability to make everyone feel valued and heard, particularly his respect for civil servants in a ministry often dominated by military structures.

“His dedication to uplifting their voices showcased his unwavering commitment to fairness and inclusivity,” she noted, adding that Dr. Boamah’s legacy of empathy, humility, and selfless devotion would remain etched in the hearts of all who knew him.

Dr. Boamah was among eight people who perished when a Ghana Armed Forces Z-9 helicopter went off radar and crashed in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region.

The tragedy also claimed the lives of Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and Tamale Central MP, Alhaji Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed; Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Muniru Mohammed; former parliamentary candidate, Samuel Aboagye; and NDC Vice Chairman, Samuel Sarpong.

Three Ghana Armed Forces personnel — Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah — also died in the crash, which has plunged the nation into mourning.