At the solemn final state funeral for the eight victims of the August 6, 2025, Ghana Air Force helicopter crash, the Black Star Square became the nation’s epicenter of grief, tribute, and reflection.
Among the most poignant moments was the heartfelt farewell from Mrs. Rita Omane Boamah to her late husband, Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah—a man she described as a loving partner, devoted father, and a true gift from God.
In a moving tribute, Mrs. Omane Boamah recalled the origins of their relationship, a chance encounter that would blossom into a lifetime bond.
“Though I was not a medical student, fate brought us together on that fateful day when we boarded the medical school bus,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. What began as a friendship soon evolved into love, enriched with shared routines and intimate traditions.
One such tradition—simple yet deeply meaningful—was their night walks to buy kenkey and fish, a habit that became an emblem of their connection. “I looked forward to visiting you in school so we could embark on our love walk to buy kenkey and fish,” she reminisced. “Buying kenkey and fish together became our hallmark.”
Mrs. Omane Boamah spoke of how her late husband reminded her of her father, both in personality and values. “I saw a father in you because you were the exact replica of my dad. You also confirmed that when you met my dad the first time, you knew you had a partner for life,” she said.
The shared respect and love between her husband and her family, she noted, cemented her conviction that he would be a perfect father to their future children.
Her tribute revealed a man who balanced professional ambition with an unwavering dedication to his family. Whether working long hours as a medical doctor or serving in public office, Dr. Omane Boamah never neglected his role at home.
“Despite your busy schedule… You either bathed the children every morning or dressed them up while I bathed them,” she recalled. His involvement in their education was equally profound—organizing their study timetables, teaching them directly from their school syllabuses, and ensuring that learning was always paired with play.
Their love story also bore milestones uniquely their own, such as his proposal that they marry on her birthday, turning the occasion into an annual double celebration. “I was looking forward to this year also,” she said quietly, a reminder of the cruel swiftness with which tragedy had intervened.
Her words painted Dr. Omane Boamah as more than a public figure; he was a man of deep personal integrity and tenderness, a “family man, a definition of a genuine person with a pure heart of gold.”
She reflected on his repeated question over the years: ‘Abena Rita, what will you do when I am not around?’—a question she had never answered. “Until today, I don’t have an answer,” she confessed. “I will, with God’s help, take care of mommy and the three kids.”
Looking heavenward, she expressed a belief that he would continue to watch over them. “Knowing who you are, I believe you’ll be looking down on us to guide us through from the heavens,” she said, promising to carry forward the love and values they shared.
In her closing words, she offered a triple gratitude that underscored the depth of their bond: “Kofi B, thank you for loving me. Thank you for loving the children. Thank you for loving my family and all who came to know you.” Signing off as “your one and only Abena Rita,” she wished him rest in power, until their reunion in eternity.
For Mrs. Omane Boamah, her husband’s death marks an irreplaceable absence—but her words also revealed a legacy of love, devotion, and shared humanity that death could not erase.
Kenkey-and-fish walks, the morning routines, the birthday-anniversary celebrations—these small acts, woven together, formed the fabric of a marriage that she described as divinely ordained.
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