Helicopter Tragedy: Honour their sacrifice by crushing galamsey now – Dr. Aidoo urges Mahama
Former diplomat and seasoned politician, Dr. Tony Aidoo, has called on President John Mahama to take decisive action against illegal mining known locally as galamsey in the wake of a tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of eight Ghanaians.
The victims, including the late Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, and three members of the Air Force, were traveling to Obuasi for the launch of a responsible mining initiative when their helicopter went down in the Dampia Range Forest Reserve in the Ashanti Region.
Dr. Aidoo emphasised that these public servants died while pursuing a mission critical to Ghana’s environmental future.
He said their sacrifice must not be in vain.
“In my message to President Mahama, I said these eight patriotic souls gave their lives in the fight against galamsey. For God’s sake, Mr. President, honour them. Let their deaths be the turning point. End illegal mining now,” he stated in an interview.
He further urged the President to mobilise all relevant forces including the security services, environmental agencies, and local communities to mount a unified and sustained campaign against galamsey, warning that the environmental and social damage of continued inaction would be irreversible.
Dr. Aidoo’s appeal is a stark reminder of the cost of illegal mining and a powerful call to transform national tragedy into lasting reform.