NDC mourns ‘fearless’ Dr Omane Boamah at state funeral
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has hailed the late Defence Minister, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, as a fearless activist and political strategist whose career spanned grassroots mobilisation, electoral defence, and national leadership.
At a state funeral for the eight persons who also perished in the military helicopter crash on August 6, NDC General Secretary Fiifi Kwetey read a tribute tracing Dr Boamah’s rise from student activism to high office.
The party described his life as one of “courage, intellect, and unyielding dedication to justice,” adding that his death “leaves a void not only in the party but in the fabric of Ghana’s democracy.”
Dr Boamah’s political journey began in the lecture halls of the University of Ghana, where he served as President of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS). His activism intensified in the early 2000s when he confronted the then-NPP government over withheld GETFund payments — a dispute he pursued through then-Minority Leader Alban S.K. Bagbin “with relentless vigour,” earning a reputation for resilience under political pressure.
He became a leading member of the Committee for Joint Action (CJA), joining forces with Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Bernard Mornah to mount public campaigns and demonstrations.
According to the NDC, the CJA became “a formidable voice for the masses and a nightmare for the government of the day.”
Renowned for his hands-on approach, Dr Boamah personally monitored ballot printing during elections to protect the integrity of the process. His commitment later saw him appointed as the NDC’s Director of Elections, where he helped shape strategy and voter engagement nationwide.
In government, he served as Deputy Minister for Environment, Science and Technology under President John Evans Atta Mills, before becoming Minister for Communication and Presidential Spokesperson under President John Dramani Mahama (2013–2016). His final cabinet role was as Minister for Defence.
Dr Boamah was one of eight people killed when the Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter crashed at Adansi Akrofuom in the Ashanti Region while en route to Obuasi for the launch of the Responsible Community and Cooperative Mining Programme.
The NDC said his passing robs Ghana of “one of the bravest sons of our land,” pledging that his “legacy of service, courage, and justice will inspire generations to come.”
