Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers Authority, Prof. Ransford Gyampo, has paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, following their tragic deaths in Wednesday’s military helicopter crash.
In a Facebook post, Prof. Gyampo recounted a life-saving encounter with Dr. Omane Boamah nearly two decades ago, when his infant son was critically ill and on the verge of death.
“Six months after birth, my son was rushed to the hospital and the condition was such that I prepared my mind for his death,” he wrote. “I was invigilating in an exam hall when I was called to rush to the hospital… I prayed that God will grant my son eternal rest because I knew my boy was going to die.”
Upon arriving at the 37 Military Hospital, however, Dr. Omane Boamah, who was the attending doctor at the time, offered both medical and emotional reassurance.
“Dr. Omane Boamah… assured me that, as long as God lives and as long as he remains a professional medical officer, my son will not die. Today, the boy is 18 years old,” Prof. Gyampo shared.
READ: Gov’t confirms Omane Boamah, Ibrahim Murtala among 8 dead in helicopter crash
The Shippers Authority boss revealed that he had a recent conversation with Dr. Omane Boamah at the Flagstaff House, where they discussed a communications theory called “Missionizing,” developed by Omane Boamah and colleagues like James Agyenim-Boateng and Stan Dogbe. He also disclosed that he had spoken with him on phone just a day before the fatal crash.
Prof. Gyampo also paid tribute to Dr. Murtala Mohammed, describing him as a brilliant academic who once studied under him.
“Ibrahim Murtala was my PhD student who recently produced one of the best dissertations in our department,” he said. “He was radical out there but demonstrated humility, hard work and resilience in his professional relationship with his teachers.”
Reflecting on the fragility of life and the pain of the loss, Gyampo asked, “So what are we going to tell their wives and children?”
READ: Tragic helicopter crash: Afenyo-Markin pays tribute to Omane Boamah, Murtala Mohammed
He ended his message with a heartfelt reminder: “People, our going out and coming back home safely is not guaranteed without the grace of God. This is painful. Condolences to the wives and children; condolences to President Mahama and condolences to the Ghanaian people.”
Eight people, including the two ministers, lost their lives in the crash of a Ghana Air Force helicopter in the Adansi area of the Ashanti Region. The nation has been plunged into mourning, with flags ordered to fly at half-mast until further notice.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
