Koforidua was draped in grief on Wednesday night as thousands gathered for a solemn candlelight procession and vigil in memory of the late Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, and seven others who died in the August 6 helicopter crash at Adansi Akrufuom.
The event, organised by the Eastern Regional branch of the NDC in partnership with the bereaved families, clergy, traditional authorities, and civic groups, formed part of the one-week remembrance activities for the victims.
Before the vigil, mourners assembled at Jackson Park for a durbar, where tributes were read and prayers offered for the departed. The streets of Koforidua then lit up with a candlelit procession, reflecting the deep sorrow engulfing the region.
Policy Advisor at the Office of the Vice President, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, described Dr. Omane Boamah as a “selfless leader whose service to Ghana went beyond politics.”
Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei, Awatey said the crash had created “a painful void” in the region.
Regional NDC Chairman, Dr. Mark Oliver Kevor, called him “a pillar of the party in Eastern Region,” while Council of State Member Evelyn Korang recalled how the late minister’s guidance shaped her political career.
At the Mponua family house in Koforidua-Effiduase, where Dr. Omane Boamah was born and raised, a heavy atmosphere of mourning lingered as relatives and townsfolk gathered. Obituary banners adorned the compound as family elders met government officials to coordinate burial arrangements.
The family of the late minister is appealing to government to immortalize his legacy. Nana Adusi Pokua Antwiwaa II, Mponuahemaa of Effiduase, proposed that the Abrewankwanta roundabout in Effiduase be renamed after him, with a statue erected in his honour.
She also suggested naming a ward at the new Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua-Effiduase after Dr. Omane Boamah.
“We don’t want his name to be forgotten. If a roundabout or a hospital ward is named after him, it will be a lasting memory of his service to Ghana,” she said.
While the family has agreed for the state burial to take place in Accra on Friday, August 15, at the Black Star Square, they insist that the 40-day observance and final funeral rites will be held in Koforidua-Effiduase, his hometown.
Dr. Omane Boamah, the only son of his mother, but with step-siblings, was remembered not just as a politician and doctor but also as a disciplined scholar.
Former schoolmate Anthony Awugya recalled: “Kofi was very quiet, very intelligent, and always with his books. Even as a young boy, he stood out for his discipline.”
His burial will mark the nation’s farewell to a man whose life was cut short in service to Ghana, but whose legacy continues to resonate across family, community, and country.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
