Franklin Cudjoe, President of IMANI Africa, has issued a statement in response to the devastating helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom District that claimed the lives of eight people, including senior government officials and military personnel.
While mourning the tragic loss, Cudjoe also raised concerns about what he described as deep-rooted systemic failures within Ghana’s Armed Forces. “We are mourning, but we must demand answers,” he wrote, implying that the incident reflects years of neglect.
He noted that the military has suffered from serious deterioration over the past eight years, citing a lack of significant investment and maintenance. “No serious additions and maintenance in the last 8 years,” he emphasized, adding that his conversations with top-ranking officers have confirmed the alarming state of the institution.
Cudjoe further revealed that the late Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, had persistently raised alarm about the dire state of the Armed Forces. “My brother, Omane Boamah consistently raised these issues at almost every Armed Forces Security Council meeting,” he noted.
He quoted a top military liaison who painted a grim picture of Ghana’s defense readiness: “If even Togo were to attack us, we would be wanting.”
In a scathing critique of the previous government priorities, Cudjoe also questioned the allocation of funds, citing an alleged $58 million spent on what he called a “crap edifice” (referencing the National Cathedral) instead of crucial military upgrades. “More details later! Not all mourners are genuine! I am very very angry. You should be.”
