I was writing a feature article for the Ghanaian Chronicle, on Wednesday afternoon of August 6, 2025, when I had the sad information about the helicopter crash in Adansi, Ashanti, resulting in two ministers of state, perishing. I must say, it really saddened me and turned the already dull day into a gloomy one.
The two ministers were, Dr. OmaneBoamah, minister of Defense and Alhaji Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, minister of Environment. Others who also perished were AlhajiLimunaMuniru, acting deputy security coordinator, Dr. Samuel Aboagye, an NDC parliamentary candidate and Samuel Sarpong, national vice chairman of the NDC. The military personnel who also died in the crash were Squadron Leader Peter BafemiAnala, Flt. Officer Twum Ampadu and Sergeant Addo Mensah.
The ministers were on an all-important assignment to inaugurate responsible mining, which would make people turn away from illegal and destructive mining.
How heartbreaking this news will be for the families of the perished. Waving theirgood-byes to family and friends before departing, turned out to be their final-farewells. How sad.
I extend my heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families.
Of the two ministers, Dr. Omane Boamah attended my former school, Pope John’s Senior High School. A Catholic and parishioner of Christ the King Catholic Church, we shared the same faith and belief.
I must say, I never got into close relationship with him and cannot even classify him as an acquaintance. All the same, I saw him as a fine gentleman and someone who would follow the footsteps of POJOBA men who got appointed into government. They always worked for good results. And today, a hero has fallen. May his soul rest with the Elect in Heaven.
Alhaji Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed was an acquaintance and when we meet, we share good conversation. May his soul and the souls of all who perished on that flight, be invited by God to rest with the Elect in Heaven.
Could this crash have been prevented? Last year, in March 19, 2024, to be precise, a military helicopter crash-landed at Bonsokrom, in the Ahanta Municipality in the Western Region. Fortunately, no one died. Then, this one comes in at the beginning of the NDC administration, but unfortunately, eight people perished.
Is the Ghana Armed Forces having challenges with its aircrafts? Are they outmoded and need to be retired and replaced? What steps is government taking to equip our forces with brand new aircrafts? Mind you our Police will need some helicopters to do their work.
On very important occasions, for the sake of proximity, the president and top government officials can be transported by military aircrafts, which includes helicopters. The other day in 2009, US President Obama while in Ghana, was flown by helicopter from Accra to Cape Coast and back.
I do not want to imagine or suggest what would have happened if Obama was on board the helicopter that was taking the two ministers to Obuasi.
Civilians as well as the military, on very important assignments will need military helicopters to travel to areas not easily accessible. This is why; I will suggest that government should re-equip the military with modern aircrafts.
Another thing also, is our roads. The earlier our roads, especially the cross-country ones, are well constructed or fixed, the better it will be for safe and quick travels.
It was claimed that a day before the tragic event, a certain man of God, called Samuel Henry aka Prophet Roja or the Dangerous Prophet came on TikTok around 8:20 am on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, and urgently asked Dr. Omane Boamah to get in touch with him,asap.
It is said that earlier this year, he prophesied that on July 29, 2025, a domestic plane would crash and less than twenty people will perish. Fortunately, there was no plane crash in July, until the helicopter crash of August 6, 2025.I am finding problems with these nowadays prophets we have.
They always come with tragic news as if they are doomsday prophets and they never conduct themselves like the prophets of God in Sacred Scriptures. In the Holy Bible, reading about God’s prophets, one will find that they never announce someone’s prophecy, publicly.
They would go to the person and deliver the message from God. But not these nowadays Homo Sapiens, parading themselves as prophets. They will come out and some will even attempt to speak in parables, telling the whole world what God has for an individual person. Why can’t they go to the person to deliver the message, but want people to know that they have powers, as if even God seeks their counsel. This is vain pride and it is ungodly.
So, Prophet Roja, had a message for Dr. Omane Boamah and the following day, the minister dies in a crash. And so? So, Prophet Roja wants to be seen as one of the most powerful prophets in Ghana. What arrogance! Pride and arrogance are of Satan and not of God. So, I dare ask, are prophets like Prophet Roja and those senior tele-prophets really prophets of God?
Since God does not walk in the company of the proud and arrogant persons, it is most likely we have on hand prophets of Satan in our midst. Mind you, since Satan can also work miracles, it is very likely that evil things would be planned, then a prophet speaks about it, and after that it happens, and many in the country will come to believe and trust these disciples of Satan and acknowledge them as prophets of God. Then they lead souls away from God.
Ghanaians, let us take caution about the way we accept such prophecies and give honor to these fake prophets. For if God truly gives a message meant for someone, He would make His prophet to deliver the message personally.
As we pray for the souls of the two ministers and all others on that ill-fated flight, let us pray for the gift of discernment to know which prophet is indeed a prophet of God the Most High.
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Amen.
Hon. Daniel Dugan
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect The Chronicle’s stance.
