A member of the NDC Communications Team, Hamza Suhuyini Sayibu, has criticised the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) for what he described as a slow and inadequate response to the recent military helicopter crash that claimed the life of defence minister Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, four other officials and three military personnel.
Speaking on TV3 New Day on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, Hamza Suhuyini said he was deeply pained by what he witnessed, noting that he had previously held the military in high regard.
I am in pain. I have struggled because of this, and the pain is yet to leave my chest. I was thinking that the grief that has engulfed our state institutions, excluded the military due to their conduct, he said.
According to him, the militarys handling of the situation was disappointing and has left civilians to play a role that should have been led by the GAF.
For hours, after the Ghana military issued a statement about the missing helicopter and the news about the discovery, it had to take civilians to be seen actively on the site of the crash, trying to salvage the situation, he said.
Hamza Suhuyini questioned why the military failed to promptly secure the crash site for investigations and accord dignity to the remains of the defence minister and the other individuals involved in the crash.
They could not dignify their gallant service by even taking charge of the remains of our fallen heroes and conducting it as a military duty. What I witnessed, I never thought in my lifetime I would have witnessed that level of inefficiency, he stated.
He also questioned why, despite the presence of a military base in Kumasi, the GAF could not quickly mobilise to the crash site.
There is a military base in Kumasi. Where was our military? The defence minister of Ghana? he questioned.
He also warned that the militarys conduct in this incident could have far-reaching implications.
It is not just about the death of these people. It also sends a signal internationally about the reputation of the Ghana Army. This conduct has exposed the country badly, he said.
Hamza Suhuyini further called on President John Mahama to take urgent steps to review and reposition the operations of the Ghana Armed Forces.
I expect the government and His Excellency President Mahama to trigger a serious repositioning as far as the Ghana military is concerned, he added.
AS/VPO
Meanwhile, watch the trailer to GhanaWebs yet-to-air documentary on teenage girls and how fish is stealing their futures below: