1. Dr. Edward Omane Boamah (Minister of Defense)
Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, a medical doctor and politician (serving as Minister of Defense at his time of demise), was born on December 26, 1975, in Nkawkaw, Ghana, to the late Edward Kwame Omane and Leticia Asante. Dr. Edward Omane Boamah hailed from Koforidua Effiduase.
Education and Early Career
Dr. Omane Boamah’s educational journey began at Koforidua Presby ‘B’ School, followed by Nana Kwaku Boateng Experimental School and Pope John Senior High School. He went on to the University of Ghana Medical School to train as a medical doctor and also briefly attended Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. He furthered his academic pursuits with a master’s degree in Health Policy Planning and Financing from both the London School of Economics and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
As a student, he quickly emerged as a leader, serving as President of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) and Coordinating Secretary of the Federation of Ghana Medical Students Association (FGMSA). His leadership qualities were also evident in his medical career, as he was elected President of the Junior Doctors’ Association in 2006. He was also a member of the Committee for Joint Action (CJA) and the Free Tsatsu Movement, using his voice to advocate for change.
In his early medical practice, he served as a WHO volunteer monitoring the 2004 Expanded Program on Immunization in Ghana’s Asuogyaman District and was a member of the medical rescue team for the 2001 Accra Sports Stadium disaster. After the National Democratic Congress lost the 2016 general election, he resumed his medical practice at Afrah International Hospital.
Political and Public Service Career
- Dr. Omane Boamah’s career in public service began with his appointment as Deputy Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology by President John Atta Mills, a position he held from 2009 to 2012.
- In this role, he co-chaired two key investigative committees: one on the spillage of Low Toxicity Oil Based Mud by Kosmos Energy in the Jubilee Offshore Field, and another on the spillage of sodium cyanide by Newmont Ghana Gold Limited in Kenyase.
- He was also instrumental in implementing the Mathematics, Science and Technology Scholarship Scheme (MASTESS), which benefited over 41,000 students, and a free laptops initiative for students and teachers.
- He also led a national tree-planting campaign to combat deforestation.
- From 2012 to 2013, he served as Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports, coordinating Ghana’s participation in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
- In February 2013, President John Mahama appointed him as Minister for Communications.
- As minister, he championed several initiatives, including setting up the National Computer Emergency Response Team and a National Committee on Child Online Protection to address growing cyber threats and protect children online.
- He also oversaw the rollout of the government’s 4G LTE network (GOTA) for security agencies. From 2014 to 2017, he also served as President Mahama’s spokesperson.
- In January 2025, Dr. Omane Boamah was unanimously approved by Parliament as the Minister for Defence.
- In this role, he prioritized the well-being of military personnel, revealing GH¢3.79 billion in hidden defence debts and advocating for regional fairness in military recruitment.
- He launched plans to recruit 12,000 new troops and secured a €50 million security support package from the European Union.
- He led a decisive campaign against illegal mining (galamsey), successfully liberating a considerable number of forests.
- As Defence Minister, he was a distinguished member of the National Security Council and the Ghana Armed Forces Council.
- He also served as the chairman of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) Governing Board, where he expressed a strong desire to establish the center as a continental hub for peace and security.
Publications and Philanthropy
Dr. Omane Boamah was also an author and philanthropist.
- He wrote “GETFund: A NUGS President’s Account”
- He co-edited “The Outreach,” a WHO Ghana-sponsored student newsletter focused on preventive health.
- He also led the publication of “Accounting to the People, Changing Lives Transforming Ghana,” which detailed the achievements of the Mahama administration.
- His book, “Professor John Evans Atta Mills; A Peaceful Man in An African Democracy,” is under review for posthumous publication.
- He paid for the entire cost of surgery for a nine-year-old boy named Setor, who had a walking disability.
Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah was married to Rita Abena, a chartered accountant, and they had three children: a son and two daughters.
2. Hon. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed (Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation & Member of Parliament for Tamale Central Constituency)
Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed was a Ghanaian politician who served as the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and as a member of parliament for Tamale Central until his demise on August 6, 2025.
Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed was born in Tamale on December 14, 1974. He was the 19th of 23 children born to a Muslim cleric and a trader. His father, who was an Imam, a businessman, and a farmer, passed away in 2000, while his mother, also a businesswoman, passed away in 2015.
His education began at home, where his father instilled discipline and religious practice by having him recite the Quran every morning after dawn prayers to earn his daily upkeep. He was a candid individual who was open about his religious beliefs and even chose to study Bible knowledge as an elective while at the University of Ghana.
His formal education started at Methodist Primary and Junior High School (Kulikuli School) in Tamale. He then attended Ghana Senior High School. He was a trained teacher, earning a Teacher’s Certificate ‘A’ from Tamale College of Education (TACE). He later pursued advanced degrees, earning a master’s degree in Development Planning from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and a master’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Ghana.
Political Career
- In 2009, Dr. Murtala Muhammed was appointed Deputy National Coordinator of the National Youth Employment Program (NYEP) under President John Evans Atta Mills. The program was later rebranded as the Ghana Youth Employment Development Agency (GYEDA). He held this position until he was elected as a Member of Parliament in 2012.
- In March 2013, President John Mahama appointed him as Deputy Minister for Information and Media Relations.
- A year later, when the Ministry of Information and Media Relations was merged with the Ministry of Communications, he was moved to serve as Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry alongside Kweku Rickets-Hagan, a position he held until his party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), lost the 2016 general elections.
- In January 2025, President John Mahama appointed Dr. Murtala Muhammed as the substantive Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation. He was approved and assumed office on February 12, 2025. He held this position until his untimely death in a Ghana Air Force helicopter crash.
Development Projects in Tamale Central
During his tenure as the Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Dr. Murtala Muhammed initiated a wide range of development projects. These included;
- Renovating several schools in his constituency
- Providing free classes and educational supplies
- Establishing a tertiary education support fund.
- Drilling 80 mechanized boreholes
- In healthcare, he provided scholarships for medical students,
- Supplied essential equipment to healthcare centers.
- Overseeing the construction of three new health facilities.
- Developing inner-city roads in areas like Changli and Gumbihini
- Facilitating job placements as part of his community development efforts
- Providing financial support for women entrepreneurs, and
- Overseeing the construction of an artificial turf field.
Dr. Murtala Muhammed was a Muslim and was married with three children.
3. Alhaji Mohammad Muniru Limuna (Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator)
Alhaji Muniru Mohammed was a politician, administrator, and a statesman, who was serving as the Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator before his demise on August 6, 2025.
Alhaji Muniru Mohammed was born on August 8, 1967, in Wa, to Alhaji Langa Limuna and Hajia Hawa Soale. He was the second of their six children. In his youth, he was a skilled dancer, a talent that earned him the nickname “Kisco Darling” and led to him winning several dance competitions in Tamale and Damongo.
Education and Public Administration
Alhaji Mohammed’s educational journey began at United Primary School in Tamale (1972–1977). He continued at Vitting Experimental Junior Secondary School (1977–1980) and obtained his GCE Ordinary and Advanced Level certifications from Damongo Secondary School (1980–1984) and Tamale Secondary School (1986–1988), respectively. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from the University of Ghana (1990–1993) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Administration from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) in 2005. Furthering his expertise, he pursued an MSc in Health Policy, Planning and Financing from the University of London’s London School of Economics (2006–2007) and a Postgraduate Diploma from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (2007–2008).
Career in Public Service and Governance
With 28 years of public service experience, including 13 at the highest levels of administration, Alhaji Mohammed was a distinguished public servant.
- He served as Assistant Director of Administration at the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Works and Housing.
- He served as Administrator and Health Policy Adviser to the Minister of Health and played a key role in the nationwide computerization of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
- He also served as the Project Coordinator for the Health Insurance Project at the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and as the NHIS Focal Officer at the Ministry of Health.
- He served as Minister of State in Charge of Scholarships and Human Resource Development (2013–2014), where he spearheaded reforms in scholarship administration.
- He then served as Upper East Regional Minister (2013–2014) and later as Northern Regional Minister (2014–2016).
- He chaired the respective Regional Security Councils and led successful peace-building initiatives that resolved long-standing ethnic and chieftaincy conflicts in areas like Bawku and Nankpanduri.
- His efforts culminated in the historic 2014 Damba festival, a significant milestone in the Dagbon peace process.
- From January 2016 to January 2017, he served as Minister for Food and Agriculture. He initiated crucial reforms to boost food security, laying the foundation for the Ghana Incentive-Based Risk-Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (GIRSAL).
- Just weeks before his tragic passing, he was appointed Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator.
Philanthropy, Religious Dedication, and Community Service
Alhaji Mohammed’s public service was complemented by his deep commitment to philanthropy and his faith.
- He sponsored the construction of dozens of mosques and facilitated the Hajj pilgrimage for hundreds of Muslims.
- Through the Tamawuta Foundation, which he established, he provided extensive support to his community. This included sponsoring the education of many individuals, paying medical bills, providing potable water to underserved communities, and organizing health screenings.
- He also served as the Campaign Coordinator for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2016 elections in the Northern Region and was a member of the Council of Elders of the NDC party in the Savannah Region.
Alhaji Muniru Mohammed was married to Hajia Zahara Ligbi and was a father to four children.
4. Samuel Sarpong (Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress)
Samuel Sarpong was a Ghanaian politician who was serving as the Vice Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress before his demise on August 6, 2025, in the Z9 helicopter crash.
Samuel Sarpong, affectionately known as “Sam Tuga” and “Castro,” was born on November 10, 1957, in Adadientem, in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. He was the first of seven children born to Mr. Kwabena Mensah Sarpong and Agnes Boakye Sarpong. A respected traditional leader, he was also enstooled as the Nkosuohene of Cape Coast.
Education and Early Career
Sarpong’s early education took him through Adadientem, Besease RC, Sefwi Wiawso, and finally, Hisasi Middle School. He then attended Osei Tutu Senior High School from 1973 to 1978, where he obtained his GCE ‘O’ Level certificate. He pursued further education at Wesley College in Kumasi, where he was trained as a teacher. After completing his training, he worked as a physical education and Asante Twi teacher at Juaben Secondary School from 1981 to 1982. He was a talented athlete in his youth, known for his skills as a cross-country runner and high jumper.
His leadership abilities became evident early on when he earned the role of PDC Coordinator for the Ejisu-Juaben district. This role involved coordinating the Program of Action to Mitigate the Social Cost of Adjustment (PAMSCAD). His pursuit of higher learning led him abroad, where he studied criminology in Cuba and later pursued further studies in Bulgaria. He also obtained an Executive Master’s Degree from GIMPA.
Professional and Political Career
Samuel Sarpong had a diverse and impactful career, combining roles in civil service, security, and politics. Sarpong had a strong background in security and management. He served with the Special Branch (now BNI) and the Ashanti Regional Investigation Committee (ASHIC), which later became the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and subsequently the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO). He also served as the acting director of SFO for the northern sector, covering the Ashanti, Bono Ahafo, Northern, Upper East, and Upper West regions. His expertise in security-related operations and public administration gave him the ability to provide on-the-spot solutions to delicate security matters.
Political and Ministerial Roles
Sarpong was a founding member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ashanti Region and played a consistent and instrumental role in building the party’s fortunes since 1992. He held numerous leadership roles, including:
- He served as the Mayor of Kumasi in 2009.
- He served as the Central Regional Minister from 2013 to 2014.
- He was moved to serve as the Ashanti Regional Minister in 2013 and again in 2015.
- He ran as the NDC’s parliamentary candidate for the Asawase constituency and later for the Nhyiaeso constituency in the 2016 elections.
- He also served as a director of the State Housing Corporation.
- He was serving as the Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress at the time of his death.
- On the morning of August 6, 2025, just hours before his tragic death, President John Dramani Mahama appointed Dr. Samuel Sarpong as the new Board Chairman of the Cocoa Processing Company (CPC). According to Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the National Chairman of the NDC, Sarpong had been informed of the appointment the previous day and was scheduled to receive his official letter.
5. Samuel Aboagye (Deputy Director General of NADMO)
Samuel Aboagye was a young energetic politician, serving as the Deputy Director General of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), before his demise on August 6, 2025.
6. Squadron Leader Peter Baafemi Anala (Crew Member of the Ghana Armed Forces)
Squadron Leader Peter Baafemi Anala was a pilot and a crew member of the Ghana Armed Forces who tragically lost his life on August 6, 2025, in the Z9 helicopter crash while performing a state duty.
Born on November 2, 1989, Peter Baafemi Anala was the youngest of two children to Paul Oscar Anala and Lucy Apung Anala. He hailed from Siniensi in the Builsa North District of Ghana’s Upper East Region but spent his formative years in Tamale.
From a young age, he showed a keen interest in technical skills. He began his primary and junior secondary education at Barwah Barracks, home of the Air Force Base in Tamale.
For his senior high school education, he attended Saint James Seminary Secondary School, an experience he often likened to military training, crediting the institution with shaping his discipline and academic excellence. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in 2012.
He continued his studies at KNUST, obtaining a Master of Science in Transport, Air Transport, and Aviation Management in 2023. At the time of his passing, he was pursuing a postgraduate degree in Safety and Accident Investigation in the United Kingdom.
Military Career and Legacy
Squadron Leader Anala was an accomplished pilot with 12 years of experience. He was commissioned into the Ghana Armed Forces on October 17, 2013. He trained extensively both in Ghana and abroad to ensure the safety of every mission he undertook.
Within his community, he was known for his humility and generosity. He was a man of action who consistently mentored young people, advised friends, and assisted neighbors. His faith was also a guiding force in his life; a baptized and confirmed Catholic, he held a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and believed that service to God and humanity was the highest calling.
Peter Baafemi Anala was survived by his wife, Ursula Wematu Asaghedewe, and their daughter, who was just two months old at the time of his death.
7. Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu (Crew Member of the Ghana Armed Forces)
Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu was a pilot and a crew member of the Ghana Armed Forces until his sudden demise on August 6, 2025, in the Z9 helicopter crash while performing a state duty.
Manaen Twum Ampadu, affectionately known as Papa Twum or Paa Tee, was born into the royal lineage of the Etena clan of Aduamoah to Rev. MacDouglas Emmanuel Ampadu and Mrs. Patience Adjeley Ampadu Nii Ablorh. Named after his paternal grandfather, Isaac Kwadjo Mensah Twum, he was the older of two siblings. He was raised in Aburi, where his mother worked at the Presbyterian Women’s College of Education (PWCE).
His education took him through several schools, including Christland International School, Deks Educational Institute, and Feberk International School, before he returned to Deks to complete his junior high school education. He attended Presbyterian Secondary Technical (PST) in Aburi, where his interest in geography began to flourish. He then proceeded to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), earning a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Rural Development in 2017.
Career and Service
Following his graduation from KNUST, Flying Officer Ampadu completed his national service and interned at the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority. His lifelong dream of becoming a pilot led him to enlist in the Ghana Military Academy in 2020. At the time of his passing, he was a dedicated member of the Ghana Air Force.
Beyond his professional life, he was a man of deep faith and community service. Led to Christ by his father and baptized by him in 2002, he was a devout Fundamental Baptist. He was an active member of Set Time Baptist Church, where he served as his father’s armor bearer on evangelism missions.
While a student, he also served as the president of the Fundamental Baptist Students Fellowship at KNUST. His compassion extended to the less fortunate, and he supported Zion Helping Hand, a charity that aided children in rural communities, and Jesus’ Kitchen, a program that fed the homeless during Christmas.
Flying Officer Ampadu was survived by his wife, Naval Lieutenant Awura Adjoa Kumi-Kyereme.
8. Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah (Crew member of the Ghana Armed Forces)
Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah was one of the three crew members of the Ghana Armed Forces who died in the Z9 helicopter crash while performing a state duty on August 6, 2025.
Though born in Labadi on July 5, 1988, Sergeant Addo hailed from Ehi in the Ketu North district of Ghana’s Volta Region. He was the son of the late Ex-Warrant Officer Class 1 Emmanuel Mensah Ashiaquaye and the late Victoria Abla Morkeh. After the passing of his parents, he was lovingly raised and guided by Reverend Chief Superintendent Stella Ama Katso Anku.
He began his education at La Presbyterian Primary A and B School and continued at La 2 Junior High School. From 2004 to 2007, he attended Emit Electronic Institute, where he developed a keen interest in technical and mechanical work. Friends and teachers remembered him as a young man of honesty, respect, and kindness who was always willing to help others.
Military Career and Faith
Sergeant Addo dedicated 14 years of his life to the Ghana Armed Forces, serving with skill and professionalism. However, his life was anchored in his Christian faith. He was baptized and confirmed in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (South La Estates) and later worshipped at the Presby Methodist Church in Takoradi.
Personal Life and Legacy
Sergeant Addo was a man who treasured relationships. His life was marked by warmth, generosity, and compassion for others. His ever-present smile and genuine concern for people made him a cherished figure in his neighborhood and beyond. He was always the person people turned to in times of need, often going out of his way to help without expecting anything in return.
He is survived by his wife, Mercy Amoah ( whom he married on July 5, 2025, just a month before his death) and five siblings. He had no children.
