The Concerned Small Scale Miners Association of Ghana has extended its heartfelt condolences to the families of government officials and military personnel who perished in a tragic helicopter crash earlier this week in the Adansi area.
The incident claimed the lives of eight individuals, including prominent government figures who were on a mission to launch the Government’s Cooperative Mining Scheme a key initiative aimed at promoting responsible and sustainable small-scale mining across the country.
Among those who died in the crash were Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence, Alhaji Dr. Ibrahim Murtala, Member of Parliament and Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology, Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Lemu, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator and former Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress and three other military officers
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Association, led by its President, Mr. Michael Kwadwo Peprah, described the loss as a significant blow to national development efforts, particularly within the mining sector.
“These statesmen and their team were on a national assignment to support the formalization and regulation of small-scale mining a project with the potential to transform the lives of thousands of miners across Ghana,” Mr. Peprah stated.
He further called on members of the small-scale mining community to reflect on the incident and reaffirm their commitment to responsible mining practices. “Let this tragedy serve as a solemn reminder of the need to support government efforts aimed at building a safer, more sustainable, and inclusive mining industry,” he added.
The Association also extended condolences to President John Dramani Mahama, the Ghana Armed Forces, and the families of the deceased.
The Cooperative Mining Scheme was expected to serve as a regulatory framework to streamline operations in the small-scale mining sector, reduce environmental degradation, and improve economic outcomes for miners nationwide.
Investigations into the cause of the crash are currently underway.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
