By Daniel Bampoe
As Ghana mourns the loss of eight esteemed individuals in the tragic military helicopter crash of August 6, 2025, one name that stands out with a mix of national reverence and quiet nostalgia is Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, the Minister for Defence.
While the nation reflects on his public service and sacrifices, those closer to him recall a man whose personal quirks, gentle humour, and grounded humanity left an equally lasting impact.
Dr. Omane Boamah was among the five government officials and three military officers who perished when a Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter crashed in the Dampia Forest Range near Sikaman, Adansi Akrofuom District, in the Ashanti Region.
The aircraft was en route to Obuasi from Accra when it lost communication with air traffic control.
A Man of Substance and Subtle Humour
While his public image was that of a calm, composed, and cerebral statesman, Dr. Omane Boamah’s inner circle knew a different side — a man who could laugh at himself, playfully tease colleagues, and indulge in simple joys that made him relatable despite his high office.
One little-known fact was his obsession with neatness — not just in work, but even in his appearance.
He secretly loved taking selfies, not for vanity or social media, but to check if his tie was perfectly aligned. In a world obsessed with filters and likes, his reason for a selfie was charmingly old-school.
Music for the Mind
His taste in music reflected his reflective nature.
He maintained a personal playlist titled “Serious Meetings”, dominated by 80% jazz and 20% slow Afrobeat. It was his mental escape, often used to find calm before high-stakes political meetings.
Even more amusing was the fact that one of his two mobile phones was dedicated almost entirely to music — filled with everything from classic highlife to meditative jazz.
The Collector of Pens
Another lesser-known trait was his fascination with pens. Friends joked that his desk drawers could rival a stationery shop. Whether at a local conference or an international summit, he somehow managed to return with a new pen — each with a story, each carefully stashed away. It was one of his quiet indulgences.
Wit Behind the Podium
Though often formal in his public demeanor, he could be strikingly spontaneous. Once, Dr. Omane Boamah delivered a full speech without a single note, later joking that he had simply “channelled his inner radio host.”
His delivery was impeccable, and the moment left his colleagues both in awe and in stitches.
His sense of humour extended to the workplace.
He was known for playfully teasing younger staff by pretending to forget their names, only to replace them with hilariously wrong ones. It was his way of breaking the tension in otherwise high-pressure environments.
The Doctor with the Neatest Handwriting
Before his political journey, Dr. Omane Boamah trained as a medical doctor. Even in medical school, his friends found him unique — not just for his intellect, but for his legible handwriting. It was so neat that classmates joked he couldn’t possibly be a real doctor — after all, how would pharmacists survive without the mystery of scribbled prescriptions?
A Fierce Draughts Player
Away from politics and medicine, he loved the board game draughts (checkers). Despite his calm, professor-like tone, he was fiercely competitive and played with passion.
Friends recall how he’d momentarily drop his diplomatic aura during a game, delivering bold moves with childlike glee.
Fufu, Groundnut Soup, and a Shifted Schedule
Even his calendar bent to his favourite meal.
Dr. Omane Boamah had an unapologetic love for fufu with groundnut soup.
Those who worked with him knew that if such a lunch was on the menu, a few meetings might get quietly rescheduled.
A Nation in Mourning
As the country observes a three-day national mourning from August 7–9, with public candlelight vigils, flower-laying ceremonies, and a national reflection service scheduled at the State House, citizens are not only grieving a national figure — they are remembering a man who brought humanity into high office.
The remains of the victims, including Dr.Omane Boamah, were received at the Air Force Base by senior government and military officials and are currently at the 37 Military Hospital morgue awaiting autopsy and state burial arrangements.
President Mahama has called for calm, unity, and a full investigation into the tragic crash.
A Legacy of Service and Sincerity
Dr. Edward Omane Boamah’s passing is not just a loss to the political elite or the defence sector. It is a loss of a friend, a mentor, a leader who never let his title silence his laughter or suppress his personality. In remembering him, Ghana doesn’t just mourn a minister — it remembers a man who was as serious about his service as he was light-hearted about life.
