A video capturing the final moments of Ghana’s late Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, has left the nation in mourning. In the footage, recorded at the Air Force Base in Accra just before his ill-fated flight to Obuasi, Dr. Boamah is seen dressed in white, calmly greeting crew members and waving as he boarded the helicopter—unaware that it would be his final farewell to the world.
The helicopter, a Ghana Armed Forces Z-9, crashed in the Sikaman Forest near Adansi Akrofuom on August 6, 2025, killing all eight on board. Among the victims were Environment Minister Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Deputy National Security Coordinator Muniru Mohammed, and several military personnel. The delegation was en route to launch the Responsible Co-operative Mining and Skills Development Programme.
In the video, Dr. Boamah’s wave and gentle smile have struck a deep emotional chord with Ghanaians. Many viewers have described the moment as “haunting,” “heart-wrenching,” and “a flight of no return.” One comment read, “As I watched with my eight-year-old daughter, she screamed, ‘Come down,’ as he waved.”
According to reports, Dr. Boamah had asked his bodyguard and ministry cameraman to stay behind due to limited space in the helicopter—a decision that now carries a chilling weight.
The footage has sparked an outpouring of grief and reflection across social media, with tributes pouring in from citizens, politicians, and civil society leaders. MP Edem Agbana, a close friend of Dr. Boamah, posted a moving tribute referencing their shared love for Arsenal Football Club and the pain of losing a brother in service.
Dr. Omane Boamah will be laid to rest on August 15, 2025, in a state burial at Black Stars Square, alongside other victims of the crash.
As Ghana mourns, the image of Dr. Boamah’s final wave remains etched in the hearts of many—a quiet, dignified goodbye from a man who served his country to the very end.https://youtu.be/FQ4VTzyKLW0?si=TyiwMXUxUM-RCeSb