Speaking on Joy FM’s Newsfile, Prof. Abotsi described the incident as a “brutal and sordid opportunity” to confront the environmental devastation caused by galamsey.
He emphasized that the deaths of these key figures, who were on a mission to launch the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) in Obuasi, should spur the country to take unprecedented action against illegal mining activities.
“The time has come for us to stop making political calculations and enforcing the law based on political connections,” Prof. Abotsi said.
“Environmental crime should be treated just like any other serious crime, and it’s time we act accordingly.”
Drawing on historical moments of national change in other countries, he called for Ghana to break free from the political compromises that have allowed illegal mining to persist.
He also cautioned against allowing political or financial interests to protect those responsible for the destruction of the environment.
“We cannot allow a few individuals, in pursuit of profit, to poison our water bodies and endanger our lives,” he added.
The helicopter crash, which occurred in the Dampia Range Forest Reserve, claimed the lives of Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, and others.
Prof. Abotsi urged that their deaths should be the catalyst for a decisive and unwavering crackdown on those responsible for environmental crimes.