The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called on the Mahama government to give Ghanaians a full update on the fight against illegal mining, saying the best way to honour the eight people who died in last year’s military helicopter crash is by showing real progress in the mission they were carrying out.
In a statement to mark the first anniversary of the tragedy, the opposition party joined the nation in remembering the victims, describing their deaths as a national loss and not one that should be viewed along political lines.
The military helicopter crashed in the Adansi area of the Ashanti Region on August 6, 2025, while travelling to Obuasi. All eight people on board lost their lives.
The victims included Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Environment, Science and Technology Minister Alhaji Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, Dr Samuel Sarpong, Mr Samuel Aboagye, and three Ghana Armed Forces personnel who were part of the flight crew.
The NPP expressed sympathy to the bereaved families, the Ghana Armed Forces and all Ghanaians, noting that the victims died while on a national assignment to combat illegal mining.
According to the party, the country owes it to the deceased to show that meaningful progress has been made in the fight against galamsey over the past year.
The NPP therefore urged the government to provide an update on the current state of Ghana’s rivers and water bodies, the condition of forest reserves affected by illegal mining and the progress made in reclaiming degraded lands.
The party also called on the government to release the findings of the official investigation into the helicopter crash, including any safety recommendations and measures introduced to prevent similar incidents involving public officials and security personnel.
The NPP maintained that remembering the eight victims should go beyond ceremonies, adding that achieving real results in the fight against illegal mining would be the most meaningful tribute to their sacrifice.
