The National Coordinator of the District Roads Improvement Programme (DRIP), Nii Lante Vanderpuye has stressed that the tragic loss of eight prominent Ghanaians in last month’s helicopter crash must not be in vain.
A Ghana Air Force helicopter crashed in Adansi Akrofuom on August 6, 2025, while carrying eight people to a launch event for the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme.
The tragic accident claimed the lives of the 8 on board;
Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah, Environment Science Technology and Innovation Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Limuna Mohammed Muniru, NDC Vice-Chairman Samuel Sarpong, former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah all passed.
Speaking on Metro Tv on September 10, Nii Lante Vanderpuye urged that the sacrifices of the eight victims must not be forgotten, and must ensure that illegal mining or galamsey is eradicated.
“I have said, and I’m repeating it today. The sacrifices that were made by our 8 gallant men, five of who were my colleagues, cannot be allowed to go waste,” he said.
Adding, “I can’t sit here and keep quiet and allow the death of my brother Dr. Omane Boamah, Dr. Samuel Sarpong, Alhaji Muniru, Dr. Murtala and my son Aboagye to go waste, not to talk about the lives of the 3 soldiers”
Mr. Vanderpuye called on the Government to make a deliberate effort to end galamsey, which he warned continues to destroy Ghana’s environment.
“End the fight against galamsey. Take all the drastic measures you have to take to end galamsey,” he urged.
He also appealed to Ghanaians who wish to go into mining to follow due process rather than resorting to illegal operations.
“If you want to also go into small-scale mining, go through the appropriate procedures and registration and get yourself into small-scale mining, and nobody will have an issue,” he said.
