FIDA advocates prioritising welfare of widows, children of fallen 8

The International Federation of Women Lawyers, Ghana (FIDA Ghana) has called for the welfare of the widows and children of the eight patriots who died in the August 6, 2025, helicopter crash to be prioritised.

A statement signed by FIDA Ghana’s acting Executive Director, Susan Aryeetey, and issued in Accra, said FIDA shared in the grief of the grieving families and prayed that the souls of the departed heroes would rest in eternal peace.

FIDA Ghana said it was deeply saddened that the incident claimed the lives of the Minister of Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah; the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed; the acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna; a former Ashanti Regional Minister, Samuel Sarpong; a Deputy Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation, Samuel Aboagye; Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu and Sergeant Ernest Addo-Mensah.

The organisation expressed condolences to President John Dramani Mahama, the Ghana Armed Forces and the families of the eight, describing them as “national heroes”.

Community engagement

Singling out Dr Omane Boamah, the statement said that during his vetting, he called for a multifaceted approach to addressing the national menace of galamsey.

It said, he emphasised the importance of community engagement, public education and promoting alternative livelihoods as sustainable solutions.

The statement said FIDA Ghana hoped that Dr Omane Boamah’s advocacy would translate into lasting action that would protect communities, especially women and children, to ensure they could thrive in a safe, healthy and sustainable environment until death intervened.