Sam George Urges President Mahama to End Galamsey in Honour of Helicopter Crash Victims

• Samuel Nartey George, the Minister for Communications, has called on the President to intensify the fight against illegal mining (galamsey)
• He emphasised that curbing the galamsey menace would be the best way to honour the eight victims of the recent military helicopter crash
• The helicopter crash, which occurred on August 6, 2025, claimed the lives of five government officials and three military personnel on board

Samuel Nartey George, the Minister for Communications, Digital Technologies, and Innovations, has urged President John Mahama to wage a ruthless war on illegal mining, also known as galamsey.

He said winning the fight, which has devastated Ghana's water bodies and forests, would be the most befitting way of honouring the memory of the eight victims of the August 6 military helicopter crash.

"The only way to honour the memories of our fallen heroes is to wage an unrelenting war against galamsey," he reportedly said.

Sam George made these remarks while speaking to the media at the final funeral rites for the victims of the tragic helicopter crash, held at the Black Star Square on Friday, August 15, 2025.

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The post with his comments is below:

August 6 helicopter crash claims eight lives

On August 6, 2025, Ghana was plunged into sorrow after five government officials and three military personnel died in a helicopter crash.

According to a press release from the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), the Z-9 helicopter took off from Accra at 9:12 a.m. before crashing near Sikaman, in the Adansi Akrofuom area of the Ashanti Region.

Below are the full names of the victims:

Government officials involved in the helicopter crash were:

• Dr Edward Omane Boamah – Minister for Defence
• Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed – Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation
• Muniru Mohammed – Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator
• Samuel Aboagye – a former Member of Parliament
• Dr Samuel Sarpong – Vice Chairman of the NDC and Presidential Staffer

The crew members who were on board were:

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• Squadron Leader – Peter Bafemi Anala
• Flying Officer – Mane-Twum Ampadu
• Sergeant – Ernest Addo Mensah

The eight deceased Ghanaian fallen heroes were travelling to the Ashanti Region to join the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, and the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, to launch the rCOMSDEP initiative.

The rCOMSDEP programme, which was approved by cabinet on Monday, August 4, 2025, is in line with the vision of President John Mahama to streamline mining activities in Ghana and create sustainable jobs through responsible cooperative mining.

Helicopter crash victims’ coffins arrive in Accra

YEN.com.gh reported earlier that the coffins conveying the remains of six out of the eight helicopter crash victims had arrived at the Black Star Square for the final funeral rites.

At around dawn on Friday, August 15, 2025, the country began the solemn farewell to six of the eight victims of the tragic Ghana Armed Forces helicopter crash in Adansi Akrofuom.

According to reports, at around 6:15 a.m., the caskets bearing the remains arrived at the Black Star Square, transported in luxury hearses by the country’s leading funeral company.

Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh