The Deputy Director of Elections and IT for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Rashid Tanko-Computer, has announced that all discussions regarding the upcoming Akwatia by-election have been suspended in the wake of the tragic military helicopter crash that occurred on Wednesday, August 6.

The accident claimed the lives of several high-ranking government and party officials, including the NDC’s Director of Elections and Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah.

Speaking on Channel One TV’s Citiuation Room on Thursday, August 7, Tanko described Dr. Boamah as the backbone of the party’s electoral machinery, praising his leadership and strategic insight that helped secure victories in challenging constituencies.

“He was the engine of our directorate. In fact, even after he was made Defence Minister, he was still working as the Director of Elections. For us to win Ablekuma North, he showed us all the strategies to be executed,” he said.

Tanko recounted that he was in direct communication with Dr. Boamah just hours before the fatal crash, working together on plans for the Akwatia by-election.

“As of the morning of yesterday at 7:45 am, he was still working as the Director of Elections, and we discussed the strategy to use for the Akwatia by-election, only for us to lose him in the next couple of hours,” he recounted with emotion.

He went on to laud Dr. Boamah’s remarkable intellect and versatility, describing him as a rare talent who excelled not only in politics but also in medicine, writing, and electoral strategy.

Tanko emphasized the profound impact of the tragedy on the NDC, revealing that the party is currently in mourning and unable to proceed with any electoral plans until further notice.

“Currently, we are devastated by his death and that of the other National Officers. We are devastated. For now, nobody has the nerve to talk about Akwatia. We are mourning our gallant officers. After that, a decision will be taken at the national level. Akwatia is not on the table as of now,” he stated.

Among those who perished in the crash were Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence and Director of Elections; Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology and MP for Tamale Central; Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Dr. Samuel Sarpong, NDC Vice Chairman; and Samuel Aboagye, a former parliamentary candidate.

Also killed were three officers of the Ghana Air Force: Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.

The incident has left the NDC, the military, and the entire nation in deep mourning as investigations into the crash continue.