Omane Boamah’s death: NDC has lost a great strategist

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Vaccine Institute (NVI), Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, has paid tribute to the late Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, describing him as a principled and selfless leader who dedicated his position to serving the interests of many rather than his own.

“He was there for a larger cause than himself,” Dr. Sodzi-Tettey said.

Recalling Dr. Omane Boamah’s role in the 2024 campaign, Dr. Sodzi-Tettey noted that the former minister was instrumental in dispelling doubts about the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) ability to compile electoral votes.

Speaking during an interview on Channel One

TV’s The Point of View on Monday, August 11, he described Dr. Omane Boamah as a pillar to his family, a great leader to the nation, and a strategist for the NDC.“Prior to Omane Boamah, there was a standing joke that the NDC was not able to compile electoral votes. I was actively involved in the 2024 campaign, and in many places that I would go to, people would call me and ask, ‘Are you guys going to be able to secure the votes?’. This was the fear; many people took it for granted that we would win. They were not sure whether we would be able to secure the votes or not.

He added, “The moment President Mahama appointed Dr Omane Boamah, I knew this was not going to be business as usual. Omane put together a training manual and trained not less than 160,000 polling agents. Today, that theory about NDC not being able to secure votes is erased. Thanks in large part to the leadership of Omane. His family has lost a pillar, the country has lost a great leader, and the NDC has lost a strategist. It’s sad we have lost all these people at the prime of their lives.”

Dr. Sodzi-Tettey also highlighted the late minister’s influence on the medical profession, saying he inspired doctors to pursue leadership roles beyond the consulting room.

“He excelled at all his roles. And because of that powerful example he set, any doctor anywhere can aspire to great things and not be constrained to the consulting room. If you can be a doctor, you can be a politician. And I think that was a powerful example he set. The ability to diversify in all of these roles,” he said.

The helicopter crash claimed the lives of eight people, including Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, former parliamentary candidate, Samuel Aboagye, and National Democratic Congress (NDC) Vice Chairman, Samuel Sarpong, and Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator.

The crew members who perished were Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.

A state funeral for the victims will be held on Friday, August 15, 2025, at the Black Star Square in Accra.