A lecturer at KAAF University, Dr Eric Bempong, has expressed disappointment in the government’s handling of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, one year after eight public officials died in a military helicopter crash.

The Ghana Armed Forces helicopter crashed on August 6, 2025, at Adansi Akrofuom in the Ashanti Region, killing all eight people on board, including senior government officials and military personnel who were travelling as part of efforts related to national duties.

Speaking during a panel discussion on Oyerepa Breakfast Time with Kwesi Parker Wilson, Dr Bempong questioned whether enough had been done to honour the memory of those who lost their lives by intensifying the fight against illegal mining.

He criticised President John Dramani Mahama, Vice President and the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), accusing them of failing to take decisive action against galamsey despite the sacrifices made by the victims of the crash.

“Ghana is not a country you should die for. In Ghana, we don’t respect death. I am disappointed in President John Mahama, the Vice President and the NDC as a political party over how these eight people painfully lost their lives,” he said.

Dr Bempong added that the loss would have been deeply painful if any of the victims were close relatives of those in authority.

“If these men were your relatives, today would be a sad day for you,” he stated.

The lecturer further criticised what he described as the worsening illegal mining situation under the current administration, arguing that expectations placed on the government while it was in opposition have not been met.

“When you were in opposition, we listened to you because someone promised to put his presidency on the line and failed to act, so we voted for you. Today, galamsey is being done without fear. So what benefit did we get from the death of these eight people?” he questioned.

Dr Bempong challenged President Mahama to provide an assessment of progress made in the fight against illegal mining since assuming office.

“One year down the line, I would like to hear President Mahama say if galamsey was at two per cent, I have been able to reduce it to 0.1 per cent,” he said.

He also cited recent developments in mining communities, including incidents in Otodie, where traditional and local authorities were reportedly struggling to deal with illegal mining activities, and questioned whether the country still had effective leadership to address the crisis.

The August 6, 2025 helicopter crash claimed the lives of eight individuals, including Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Limuna Muniru, former NDC parliamentary candidate Samuel Sarpong, as well as three military officers and a flight assistant. The victims were travelling to support national efforts when the aircraft went down in the Adansi Akrofuom area of the Ashanti Region.