Otoobour Djan Kwasi II, the Chief of Aburi, in the Akwapim South District of the Eastern Region, has urged President John Dramani Mahama to repeal Legislative Instrument (LI) 2462 and declare a state of emergency to deal with the threats of illegal mining, in the wake of the devastating helicopter crash that claimed the lives of eight individuals, including government officials and military personnel.
Otoobour Djan Kwasi II, who is also the Adontenhene of the Akuapem Traditional Council, also commended the public for their maturity and empathy in the face of the tragedy.
The Aburihene also disclosed that one of the victims, the late Flying Officer Twum Ampadu, who completed his secondary education at Aburi Secondary Technical School, had strong ties to Aburi, as his mother, Patience Ampadu, hailing from the area, served as a lecturer at the Aburi Presbyterian Women’s College of Education for over 25 years.
Otoobour Djan Kwasi II, who spoke to the media at Aburi, extended his condolences to the bereaved families, and appealed to the public to refrain from sharing disturbing videos of the victims on social media platforms, and urged all Ghanaians to treat the incident as a national tragedy.
The Aburihene also used the opportunity to call for decisive action against galamsey, emphasising the need for a collective effort to combat the scourge. He appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to repeal LI 2462 and declare a state of emergency to address the issue.
The Eastern Region is reeling in shock, grief, and profound sadness upon receiving the devastating news of the untimely passing of eight distinguished personalities, including Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, a renowned son of the Eastern Region from Koforidua Effiduase, and the late Flying Officer Twum Ampadu, a proud son of Aburi.
NET2 TV NEWS interacted with some residents of Aburi on the impact of the tragedy.
Some are struggling to come to terms with the loss, acknowledging that the truth about what happened can never be fully known since none of the victims survived to share their account.
However, they offered condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims, recognising the profound impact of the tragedy on their lives.
Story by: Isaac Clottey
