Politics

Omane Boamah was behind many NDC health policies

Health worker attending to a patient

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has revealed that many of the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) health sector promises were inspired by the late Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah.

Speaking on The Point of View programme on Monday, August 11, 2025, Mr. Ablakwa highlighted Dr. Omane Boamah’s vital role as a key strategist for former President John Mahama during the party’s opposition years from 2017 to 2024.

“Many people do not know that a lot of the promises in the National Democratic Congress manifesto, when it comes to the health sector are his thoughts,” Mr. Ablakwa revealed.

He specifically pointed to flagship policies such as free primary health care and the MahamaCares programme, noting that these initiatives were conceived by Dr. Omane Boamah and warmly embraced by the Ghanaian public. These policies were designed to enhance access to healthcare and provide support to vulnerable communities, forming an important part of the NDC’s manifesto and social intervention agenda.

“He became a strong strategist for President Mahama throughout the opposition period,” Mr. Ablakwa added, emphasizing the late minister’s significant contribution to the party’s policy direction and political strategies during challenging times.

Dr. Edward Omane Boamah tragically lost his life in the military helicopter crash on August 6, an incident that also claimed the lives of several senior officials, including Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation; Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Samuel Aboagye, former parliamentary candidate; and Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the NDC.

Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, and Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, were buried on August 10 in accordance with Islamic rites.

READ: GAF Helicopter crash response is poor: Suhuyini criticises

The helicopter, a Z-9 model carrying three crew members and five passengers, departed Accra at 09:12 GMT en route to Obuasi for an anti-illegal mining event before it went “off the radar.” This triggered an extensive search-and-rescue operation that later confirmed that all eight people on board had died.