BY Daniel Bampoe
Ghana’s grief over the tragic military helicopter crash that claimed the lives of three senior government officials has deepened following revelations about the last public act of one of the victims, Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah.
On the morning of Wednesday’s crash, Dr. Omane Boamah posted on his WhatsApp status a picture taken just days earlier at the funeral of diplomat Sam Pee Yalley.
In that photograph, he was seated with the Minister for Fisheries, Emilia Arthur, National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, and other party stalwarts.
That post, shared at exactly 5:49 a.m., has since been interpreted by many as his quiet farewell.
Emilia Arthur, who sat beside him at the funeral, has shared a moving recollection of what has now become their final encounter.
She described their conversation as unusually reflective, focusing on life, legacy, and the way they wished to be remembered.
“Omane said it should never be for our possessions, but for something far deeper — the impact we make, the lives we touch, the good we leave behind,” she wrote.
Their exchange, she noted, also touched on family bonds, with both reflecting on the unique responsibilities of being only children.
She recalled admiring the way he honoured his mother during his days at his alma mater, ensuring she shared in his moments of pride.
In what now feels eerily prophetic, the two even discussed funerals. Emilia joked that she expected to die before him because of her age, only for a gentleman nearby to interject: “He may go before you.” Within days, that chilling prediction came true.
Emilia Arhur further recounted how she had known Omane Boamah since the early days of NDC grassroots politics in 2005 and 2006, during the Committee for Joint Action (CJA) meetings at Don King’s residence (Ato Ahwoi).
“Even then, you were different: passionate, precise, deeply grounded, committed to truth and change for Ghana,” she wrote.
She also highlighted his quiet loyalty during the 2024 general elections, when he deployed 50 polling agents to her constituency on the eve of voting to secure her parliamentary victory.
“You did it quietly, without fuss, simply because you believed in me. In government, you kept saying, ‘Auntie Emilia, you must succeed.’ Thank you,” she added.
Dr. Omane Boamah, a trained medical doctor and seasoned politician, was widely respected for his intellect, humility, and loyalty to the cause of the NDC.
His role as Defence Minister positioned him at the heart of the security apparatus, a responsibility he carried with seriousness until his tragic death in the military helicopter crash alongside his colleagues.
For many, the final image he shared — captured at a funeral and posted hours before his own demise — has become a haunting symbol of life’s fragility and the abruptness with which death can arrive.
“Omane — my comrade — you left far too soon. But you left a life that mattered. You left a life worth remembering,” Emilia Arthur concluded.
