Lawyer and Member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Communications team, Hamza Sayibu Suhuyini, has sharply criticised the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) for what he described as a “poor response” to the August 6, 2025 helicopter crash.
The tragedy killed eight people, including Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah and Minister for Science, Environment, Technology and Innovation Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed.
Speaking about the incident, Suhuyini expressed deep disappointment in the military’s handling of the aftermath, questioning why civilians, rather than soldiers, were first seen at the crash site.
“I am – calling out the poor response from the Ghana Army especially as far as this unfortunate incident is concerned. I am pained and have struggled for days and the pain is yet to leave my chest.
“For some time, I was thinking that the military was an exception to the paucity that has engulfed our state institutions”
Hamza Sayibu Suhuyini, Member of NDC’s Communications team
Suhuyini noted that the Defence Minister was aboard the helicopter, yet the military’s arrival at the crash site was delayed for hours after the aircraft was first reported missing. He stressed that civilians reached the area and began salvaging remains and items before the Ghana Armed Forces mobilised.
“These are the people who are supposed to defend the country in case of an emergency and they could not mobilise to get to the site of the mortal remains of their Defence Minister in a matter of an hour?
“They could not secure the perimeters of the crash site for their own investigations? They could not dignify these gallant servers by even taking charge of their remains and carrying it as our military?”
Hamza Sayibu Suhuyini, Member of NDC’s Communications team
Call for Reform
The private legal practitioner called on President John Dramani Mahama to undertake what he described as a “serious repositioning” of the Ghana Armed Forces in light of what he viewed as incompetence in the institution’s response. “I never thought in my lifetime I would have witnessed such inefficiency,” he stated.
“What was the top rank of the Ghana Military engaged in?” Suhuyini further asked, quizzing the lack of proper control measures during the damage.
He lamented that the military failed to cordon off the area to protect evidence and preserve the dignity of the victims. He said the events had diminished his faith in one of the state institutions he had previously regarded with high esteem. “Were you not shocked? No red tape to even protect the scene of the accident,” he added.
He warned that the Ghana Armed Forces’ response could have international repercussions, potentially tarnishing the country’s image abroad.
“And you all want to brush this under the radar and pretend as if everything was alright. This is not right because it is not just about the death of these people”
Hamza Sayibu Suhuyini, Member of NDC’s Communications team
The August 6 helicopter crash occurred at Adansi Akrofuom in the Ashanti Region as the officials were travelling to a national event, tragically claiming the lives of 8 people.
The government subsequently announced a three-day national mourning period, which began on August 7, culminating in a vigil at the State House forecourt on August 9 and an interdenominational state funeral scheduled for August 15.
The Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, was the first to confirm the deaths of Dr. Omane Boamah and Dr. Murtala Mohammed on August 6, hours after the crash was reported.
President Mahama, while leading national mourning activities, has assured the public that the victims will be honoured with full state rites. The interdenominational state funeral will serve as the final official tribute to the late ministers and six others who perished in the crash.
Meanwhile the general public is still in shock, and like Suhuyini, are tossing over the details of the crash in their minds – pondering, wondering and looking for some answers to this national disaster.
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