Ghanaians across the country are expressing deep outrage and disappointment following disturbing reports that the body of the late Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, was transported in a cocoa sack after the tragic military helicopter crash that claimed his life and seven others.
The incident, which occurred while the officials were on an official mission to Obuasi, has sparked widespread condemnation and calls for an immediate and independent probe into the handling of the remains of the deceased.
Social media platforms have been flooded with expressions of disbelief and anger, with many describing the act as a national disgrace and a stark reflection of the country’s lack of preparedness and seriousness in managing high-level emergencies.
“This is not how a sovereign nation with dignity and respect for its statesmen should treat its fallen heroes,” one social media user wrote. “Transporting the body of a sitting Defence Minister in a cocoa sack is not only disrespectful, it’s shameful.”
Eyewitness accounts and unverified footage shared online appear to show the remains of the late Minister being placed in a cocoa sack before being conveyed from the crash site, sparking further outrage among citizens and raising questions about the country’s emergency response protocols.
Civil society organisations and concerned citizens are demanding answers from the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence regarding the protocols followed after the crash. Several have called on President John Dramani Mahama to order a full-scale investigation into the matter.
“The nation is grieving, and to compound that with such indignity is unacceptable,” said Nana Asante Bediatuo, a legal analyst and commentator. “We owe it to the memory of these public servants and to the public to ensure accountability and transparency in how this was handled.”
The Defence Ministry is yet to officially comment on the claims.
Meanwhile, plans are underway for a state burial for Dr. Boamah and the other officials who perished in the crash. However, the controversy surrounding the post-crash handling of their remains threatens to overshadow national mourning efforts.
The Ghanaian public continues to await clarification and justice as the nation comes to terms with one of its darkest moments in recent political history.
