Helicopter tragedy: Franklin Cudjoe blames Akufo-Addo govt’s inaction on galamsey

IMANI Africa President Franklin Cudjoe has linked the circumstances surrounding the August 6 helicopter crash, which claimed eight lives, including two cabinet ministers, to the former Akufo-Addo administration’s failure to combat illegal mining effectively.

The victims — Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, and six others, including military personnel — were en route to Obuasi for the launch of the Responsible Co-operative Mining and Skills Development Programme (COMSDEP) when the aircraft went down in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region. The initiative they were set to inaugurate was aimed at addressing the galamsey menace.

Speaking on Channel One TV, Mr. Cudjoe expressed sympathy to the families of the deceased and the nation, but stressed that decisive action against illegal mining in recent years could have prevented the incident.

“It’s hard, it’s really hard, it’s painful, I will commiserate with the families and the rest of the country. It’s important that people do not remind us of the pain, especially some of the commentaries regarding this whole menace of galamsey.

“It’s quite interesting that we are making it look as though something should be shared politically. I think that if something significant had been done about it, probably in the last 5, 6 or 7 years, we wouldn’t be here,” he said.

Mr. Cudjoe called for the legacies of the late officials to be preserved.

The burial of Alhaji Muniru and Dr. Murtala is scheduled for today, August 10, in accordance with Islamic tradition. An inter-denominational state funeral for all victims will take place on Friday, August 15, 2025, at the Black Star Square, where Ghanaians will gather to honour their service and lasting contributions to the country’s development.