Accra: The Ghana Armed Forces commemorated the inaugural annual memorial public lecture in honor of the late Defence Minister Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah at the Burma Camp in Accra on Tuesday. Dr. Omane Boamah, along with seven other public officials, tragically lost their lives in a military helicopter crash at Adansi Akrofuom in the Ashanti Region on August 6th, 2025, during a national assignment.
According to Ghana News Agency, the event was graced by notable dignitaries including Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, Dr. Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff at the Presidency, and Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, the Finance Minister and Acting Defence Minister. Also present were service chiefs and alumni from Pope John Senior High School and Junior Seminary, Koforidua, where the late minister studied.
The memorial lecture was chaired by Nana Dr. Emmanuel Adu-Sarkodee, President of the Ghana Employers' Association and Akwamu Manwerehene, and featured two key speakers. Reverend Father Dr. Ebenezer Akesseh, Parish Priest of Christ the King Parish of the Catholic Church, Accra, delivered a lecture on 'Selfless Leadership in Public Service: Lessons from the Life and Legacy of the late Dr. Omane Boamah.' He emphasized public service as a vocation and divine calling, highlighting Dr. Omane Boamah's dedication and integrity.
Dr. Akesseh described an instance where Dr. Omane Boamah interrupted his journey to assist a woman in need, underscoring his commitment to servant leadership. He noted that Dr. Omane Boamah consistently prioritized the nation's interests over personal or political gain, earning trust through transparency and accountability.
Professor Kwasi Appeaning Addo, former Director of the Institute of Environment and Sanitation Studies, spoke on 'Accra Beyond the Floods: Rethinking Enforcement, Urban Planning and Community Resilience.' Prof. Addo called for a climate-resilient Accra, advocating for disciplined urban planning and engineering to protect the capital from flood disasters. He proposed integrating natural infrastructure and AI-driven enforcement to achieve sustainable urban development.
Prof. Addo urged policymakers to lead with integrity and enforce regulations to prevent unauthorized construction. He called on traditional leaders to safeguard lands and uphold ecological zoning laws, while encouraging civil society and media to maintain oversight. He stressed the importance of public education on climate adaptation and waste management.
The lecture concluded with a call for collective action, urging citizens to maintain cleanliness, act as whistleblowers against illegal developments, and participate in community-led disaster response initiatives. Prof. Addo emphasized the need for collaboration to transition Accra into a structurally disciplined and environmentally harmonious city.