Just hours before perishing in a military helicopter crash, Minister of Defense, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, was engaged in strategic electoral planning with senior members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), according to a party official.
Rashid Tanko-Computer, Deputy Director of Elections and IT for the NDC, said Dr. Boamah led a virtual meeting early Wednesday morning focused on the party’s tactical approach to the upcoming Akwatia by-election. Boamah, known for his methodical planning style, reportedly outlined key assignments and directives during the session.
“He was a master planner,” Mr. Tanko-Computer said during an appearance on JoyNews’ PM Express. “He would map out the entire strategy—assign roles, and wait for feedback. He expected results, and we always delivered.”
The meeting, held around 7:00 a.m., was conducted via social media platforms, a method the late minister preferred to maximize efficiency and minimize logistical delays. “He didn’t believe in waiting for people to gather physically. He wanted results fast,” Mr. Tanko-Computer added.
According to the party official, Dr. Boamah was expected to receive follow-up reports by that evening. However, none of the participants were informed he was traveling that day.
Dr. Boamah was among eight military personnel who died when a Ghana Armed Forces helicopter crashed in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region. The crash has prompted national mourning and a high-level investigation ordered by President John Mahama, who has tasked a Board of Inquiry with determining the cause of the incident.
Dr. Boamah, a close ally of former President Mahama, had played an influential role in shaping the NDC’s electoral operations. He was reportedly instrumental in building campaign strategies following the appointment of the current elections team in 2023.
“The very first day we met with candidate Mahama in 2023, Dr. Omane told us the stakes for the 2024 elections would be unprecedented,” Mr. Tanko-Computer said.
The sudden loss of the Defense Minister has created both a leadership vacuum and deep emotional loss within the party’s inner circle. Meanwhile, national attention remains focused on the outcome of the investigation, as questions swirl over the military’s operational protocols and the safety of government transport aircraft.
