Late Dr. Edward Omane Kofi Boamah
On Tuesday, August 6, 2025, Ghana was struck by an unimaginable tragedy when a military helicopter crashed during an official mission, claiming the lives of eight patriotic citizens, including two Cabinet Ministers. Among them was Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, a distinguished public servant, medical doctor, and statesman.
Today, Friday, August 15, 2025, Ghana bids a solemn and final farewell in a state funeral held in honor of the six remaining victims, whose lives were cut short in this devastating incident. Their memory will live on in the hearts of a grateful nation.
Biography of Dr. Edward Omane Kofi Boamah
Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah was an exceptional leader for the National Democratic Congress. He was a prominent Ghanaian politician, medical doctor, Health policy planning and Financing analyst. Before his passing on August 8, 2025, he was the Defence Minister for the Republic of Ghana under President Mahama’s second term in office. He served as the minister for seven months until his death.
Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah was the first person to hold the combined position of Director of Elections and IT in 2024 for the NDC. He was the brains behind the party’s health sector promises, the MahamaCares initiatives among others. He was a key strategist for President John Dramani Mahama during the opposition years.
He had a meticulous approach to all roles he was assigned, His dedication and efforts to his job made everyone admire him. His life was defined by his service.
EARLY LIFE
Dr. Omane Boamah was born on December 26, 1975, in Nkwakaw, to the late Mr. Edward Kwame Omane and Madam Leticia Asante. He hails from Koforidua Effiduase. He was married to Rita Abena Adubea Offei and was blessed with three children.
EDUCATION
He attended the Koforidua Presby B School, continued at Nana Kwaku Boateng experimental School, and furthered to Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary in 1989, all in Koforidua. Demonstrating early academic promise and leadership capabilities, he progressed to the University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS) in 2006, where he graduated as a medical doctor.
In 2018, he pursued a master’s in Health Policy Planning and Financing from both the London School of Economics and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
POLITICAL CAREER AND LEADERSHIP
Early in his medical practice, his natural leadership qualities were further highlighted when he was elected President of the Junior Doctors’ Association in 2006. Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah was nurtured for leadership first as a student leader when he was elected NUGS President, then as Spokesperson for Junior Doctors, and subsequently through activism as a leading member of the Committee for Joint Action (CJA) and member of the Free Tsatsu Movement.
President John Evans Atta-Mills of blessed memory appointed Dr. Omane Boamah to serve as Deputy Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology from 2009 to 2012. He worked with his Minister to roll out the then flagship Mathematics, Science and Technology Scholarship Scheme (MASTESS) which benefited some 41,000 students. They also implemented the Free Laptops Initiative for Students and Teachers.
Dr. Omane Boamah led investigations into environmental contamination incidents. He was chairman of the Investigative Committee on the Spillage of Sodium Cyanide in a water body in Kenyase, Ghana, by Newmont Ghana Gold Limited in 2010. Then in 2011, he was again tasked to chair the Investigative Committee on the Spillage of Low Toxicity Oil-Based Mud (LTOBM) by KOSMOS Energy in the Jubilee Offshore Field, West Cape Three Points in Ghana. Additionally, he spearheaded a national tree-planting campaign against deforestation.
He subsequently served as Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports (2012–2013), coordinating Ghana’s participation in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
Appointed by President John Mahama in February 2013 as Minister for Communications and Spokesperson for the President of Ghana, he championed several vital cybersecurity initiatives including Child Online Protection, and led the rollout of the Government of Ghana’s 4G LTE network (GOTA) which provides enhanced communication capabilities for security agencies.
As a former Civilian Employee of the Ministry of Defence, he has an unwavering commitment to national and human security. His innovative thinking and excellent negotiation skills position him as a forward-thinking leader, ready to address the complexities of modern security challenges and an advocate for the institution’s dignity and well-being of service women and men.
In January 2025, President Mahama nominated Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah as Minister for Defence. He received unanimous approval and confirmation by Parliament.
In office, he prioritized military welfare; revealed GH¢3.79 billion in hidden defence debts, advocated for regional fairness in military recruitment, launched recruitment plans for 12,000 new troops, and secured a €50 million EU-financed security support package.
As Defence Minister, he waged a credible, uncompromising and decisive campaign against Galamsey ensuring that military deployments achieved their objectives. A considerable number of forests were liberated from the Galamsey scourge.
As Minister of Defence, he was a distinguished member of the National Security Council chaired by President John Mahama and the Ghana Armed Forces Council chaired by Vice President, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang. He was the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC).
He was also a member of the Ministerial Advisory Board of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
PUBLICATIONS
Dr. Omane Boamah is the author of “GETFund: A NUGS President’s Account” – A book focused on advocacy in funding education in Ghana (2004), He also authored the yet to be published: “Professor John Evans Atta Mills; A Peaceful Man in An African Democracy” the book is currently under review for posthumous publication. He led the publication of “Accounting to the People, Changing Lives Transforming Ghana” – A book focused on the achievements of the Mahama-led Government of Ghana from 2013 to 2015. He was co-editor of a W.H.O. Ghana-sponsored Students’ newsletter focused on preventive health- “The Outreach.
TRAGIC END AND LEGACY
On 6th August 2025, Dr. Omane Boamah died in a devastating Ghana Armed Forces Z 9 helicopter crash near Adansi Akrofuom, en route to Obuasi for an anti-illegal mining and responsible community mining event.
He is fondly remembered as a versatile statesman: a physician, devout Catholic, policymaker, environmental steward, communications expert, political strategist, and devoted public servant. His legacy endures in the institutions and reforms he shaped, and in the lives he touched through dedicated service, compassion, and integrity.
He encompassed all that a man should be: a loving husband, a caring father, a true patriot, a selfless Comrade, a loyal brother, and a trusted friend.
He was visionary, a thinker, problem-solver, resourceful, diligent, forthright, generous, a strategist, honest in all his dealings, a leader of excellence, and an extraordinary mentor to many young activists.
His golden legacy will live on. Rest in the bosom of the Lord, Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Affectionately Called Kofi B.