GALAMSEY’s AIRCRASH VICTIMS

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Like most Ghanaians, I was saddened to learn of the crash of the Z-9 military helicopter that claimed the lives of 8 of our countrymen last week. I broke down in tears when a few days later, I saw a video.

It showed the aircraft on the tarmac, beginning to inch forward and Dr. Omane Boamah, dressed in white, waving happily at those on the ground. Within an hour or so, he and his fellow travellers were dead! It brought home to me, and hopefully to all, forcefully the unpredictability of life and death. Sophocles once said, “One must wait until the evening to see how splendid the day has been. ” For the 8 though, their days were far from evening! Their lives ended at midday, in midstream. Have you heard of the officer who was newly married? So sad! I can’t imagine the sorrow of their families. May God/Allah console them.

Perhaps, these notable victims of Galamsey, after all the anonymous victims, including unborn children, pregnant women, our forests and our rivers will help us to realize that in this Galamsey fight, we have, like the Ashantis did under Osei Tutu I, come to the banks of our Prah river. And President Mahama, speaking through Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa, served notice that he would lead a “ruthless and relentless campaign against Galamsey”. It is about time, Mr. President. As Samson Anyenini pointedly asked on Newsfile, ” How do we honour the gallant 8 by drawing a red line.?”

In his national address after the tragedy, the President stated, “As we mourn, questions about the cause of this tragedy are natural and important. I want to assure the nation that the Ghana Armed Forces has initiated a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances of this crash.

An investigative board of inquiry has been set up to investigate the cause of the crash. In this moment of national grief let us remember that we are above all Ghanaians– united not just by nationality but by shared humanity and now shared sorrow “.These were very appropriate remarks by the President. As usual, there have been many rumours surrounding the crash, our air safety procedures, how we acquire and maintain Presidential and airforce aircraft and their use.

These rumours dredged up old remarks by our two past defense Ministers on Presidential aircraft and their maintenance. The President’s announcement that the GAF has initiated an investigation and that there is also an investigation board to investigate the crash is confusing.

Where does the GAF inquiry end and that of the Board of Inquiry begin? Can GAF transparently investigate itself?What are the terms of reference of the board? Who are its members? Here are some questions for the inquiry. First, how old was the ill-fated Z-9? Second, when was the last time it went for scheduled maintenance? Third, was the plane ever lost by radar? Fourth, what are the problems with our Presidential jet? Fifth ,is there a law or executive order governing the acquisition and use of Presidential jets? Finally, why were the bodies flown to South Africa for identification instead of being identified locally? Honestly, I have been stunned by how quickly the discussion of this tragedy took on partisan overtones. It underlined, once again the unfortunate trend of party leaders taking their cues from foot soldiers and serial callers instead of leading them.

The results have been the increasing violence in our by-elections and increasing prevalence of impunity in our politics. Let’s have some leadership. Next, let the government end this ill-conceived directive for religious prophecies to be submitted to the Presidential Envoy for Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations for validation. It is exposing us to global ridicule.

Finally, Mr. President and fellow Ghanaians, the sincerest and most lasting tribute we can pay to those who died is to wage a bipartisan, successful war on Galamsey and end it. Let their legacy be that moved by their deaths, we ended Galamsey.

Long live Ghana. Arthur Kobina Kennedy ( Friday, August 15th, 2025)