Defence Ministry Holds Maiden Annual Public Lecture In Honour Of Dr Omane Boamah

The Ministry of Defence has held the maiden edition of its annual public lecture in honour of the late former Minister for Defence, Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, as part of activities marking the first anniversary of the August 6, 2025 military helicopter crash that claimed the lives of eight people.

The lecture, held at Burma Hall in Burma Camp, Accra, brought together senior government officials, military commanders, family members, colleagues and members of the Pope John Senior High School Old Boys Association (POJOBA), Dr Omane Boamah's alma mater, to celebrate his life and contribution to national development.

Among the dignitaries present were Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, high-ranking officers of the Ghana Armed Forces, members of the family of the late minister and representatives of POJOBA.

The annual lecture is one of a series of commemorative activities instituted by the Ministry of Defence to honour Dr Omane Boamah and the seven others who lost their lives in the tragic Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter crash on August 6, 2025.

The aircraft, carrying three crew members and five passengers, crashed in the Adansi area of the Ashanti Region while travelling from Accra to Obuasi for the launch of the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), an initiative aimed at tackling illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

Those who perished in the crash were Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna, NDC Vice Chairman Dr Samuel Sarpong, Deputy Director-General of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) Samuel Aboagye, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manaen Twum-Ampadu and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah. Investigations into the cause of the crash are still ongoing.

Delivering the maiden lecture on the theme, Accra Beyond the Floods: Rethinking Enforcement, Urban Planning and Community Resilience, Professor Kwasi Appeaning Addo of the Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences at the University of Ghana called for a complete rethink of the country's flood management strategy.

He advocated the adoption of the sponge city concept through the integration of green infrastructure, permeable pavements, roadways designed to improve water infiltration and the protection of wetlands to allow the earth to naturally absorb rainwater and reduce surface runoff.

Professor Appeaning Addo further proposed the use of real-time Geographic Information Systems (GIS), LiDAR elevation modelling and predictive Artificial Intelligence to accurately map changing flood risks and prevent illegal developments through automated digital geofencing.

He stressed that technological innovation, coupled with effective enforcement, would significantly improve urban planning and reduce the impact of flooding in Accra.

On community resilience, he called for stronger support for community-led initiatives aimed at keeping neighbourhoods clean through regular desilting of choked drains.

He also suggested the introduction of anonymous reporting systems, including dedicated short codes, to enable residents to report illegal developments and environmental offences without fear of victimisation.

He further encouraged waste sorting and recycling at the community level, supported by incentive-based reward systems to promote responsible waste management.

According to the professor, building resilient communities also requires the establishment of permanent and well-resourced community disaster response teams equipped with first-aid supplies, life jackets and evacuation logistics.

He noted that local communities must be empowered with the data, tools and training needed to respond effectively to emergencies before they escalate into disasters.

Speaking to 3Music TV on the sidelines of the event, Assistant Global Secretary of POJOBA, Dankwah Sampson Philip, described Dr Omane Boamah as one of the school's most dedicated benefactors.

He said the late minister spearheaded several development projects at Pope John Senior High School, including road rehabilitation works and the procurement of buses for the school.

"We have lost a lot because the man was ready to help the school," Philip said.

He disclosed that before his untimely death, Dr Omane Boamah had promised to renovate the school's science laboratory, procure an additional school bus and sponsor the tertiary education of some students.

Philip, however, commended the government for honouring the late minister's memory through the construction of a six-unit staff bungalow.

The commemoration of the first anniversary of the helicopter crash will continue with a National Inter-Faith Memorial Service and the Service to the Soul Nationwide Blood Donation Drive at the 37 Military Hospital in honour of the eight individuals who lost their lives in service to the nation.