The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called on the government to provide a comprehensive account of the fight against illegal mining and the official investigation into the military helicopter crash that claimed eight lives a year ago.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, August 5, ahead of the first anniversary of the tragedy, the opposition party said commemorating those who died should go beyond memorial events and include measurable progress on the national mission they were undertaking.
The helicopter crashed in the Adansi area of the Ashanti Region on August 6, 2025 while travelling to Obuasi, killing all eight people on board.
Those who died included former Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah, former Minister for Environment, Science and Technology Alhaji Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, Dr Samuel Sarpong, Samuel Aboagye, and three Ghana Armed Forces personnel.
The NPP said it joined the government, the Ghana Armed Forces, the bereaved families and all Ghanaians in mourning the victims, describing their deaths as “a loss to the whole Republic”.
The party also encouraged Ghanaians to participate in the nationwide blood donation exercise being held as part of the anniversary activities, describing it as “a fitting and life-giving tribute”.
However, the NPP argued that remembrance must be accompanied by accountability, noting that the victims lost their lives while on a mission to support efforts to combat illegal mining.
“They did not die at rest. They died at work, in pursuit of a cause the whole nation has declared urgent,” the statement said.
The party therefore urged the government to provide evidence of progress made over the past year, including the current condition of rivers and water bodies affected by illegal mining, the status of forest reserves under threat, and the extent of land reclamation efforts.
It also called for an update on the official investigation into the helicopter crash, including its findings, safety recommendations and measures implemented to prevent similar incidents involving public officials and security personnel.
According to the NPP, the nation deserves answers on both the anti-galamsey campaign and the circumstances surrounding the crash, adding that it would continue to press for accountability in Parliament and through public discourse.
The Party urged Ghanaians to honour the memory of the victims by ensuring the causes they served continue to receive national attention.
