Mrs. Rita Omane Boamah, widow of the late Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, delivered a deeply moving tribute to her husband on Friday, August 15, during the interdenominational state funeral for the eight victims of the August 6 helicopter crash.

Dr. Omane Boamah died alongside seven others when a Ghana Armed Forces helicopter went down in a forested area at Sikaman in the Adansi Akrofrom District, Ashanti Region.

The delegation was en route to Obuasi to launch the government’s Cooperative Mining Initiative when the tragedy occurred.

The other victims were: Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation; Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Dr. Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the NDC; Samuel Aboagye, Deputy NADMO Director-General; and three Air Force personnel — Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.

In her tribute, Mrs. Boamah fondly recalled the love story she shared with her husband, whom she affectionately called “Kofi B.”

She reminisced about their first meeting when fate brought them together on a medical school bus, the simple joy of their night walks to buy kenkey and fish, and the bond they built over shared meals.

“You were truly God-sent,” she said.

“Your commitment and love were such that when you proposed, we got married on my birthday — and every year, we celebrated both occasions together. I was hoping for the same this year too.”

She described Dr. Boamah as a devoted husband and hands-on father, who despite his demanding roles as a doctor and politician, made time to bathe, dress, and teach their children.

“You knew their syllabus back to back and always had a timetable for them — but you made room for play and adventure,” she recalled.

Calling him “a genuine person with a pure heart of gold,” Mrs. Boamah admitted that she had never answered his frequent question: “Abena Rita, what will you do when I am not around?” She added, “Even today, I still don’t have an answer. But with God’s help, I will take care of our three children and mummy, knowing you will be looking down on us from the heavens.”

Her tribute ended with words of gratitude and farewell: “Kofi B! Thank you for loving me, the children, my family, and all who knew you. God be with you till we meet again. Rest in power, my love.”