Solomon Owusu, a leading member of the Movement for Change, has fired shots at the former President Akufo-Addo-led administration over their misplaced priorities in allocating over $22 million to architect David Adjaye for the design of the National Cathedral project.
According to Solomon Owusu, $97 million was spent to dig a hole at the National Cathedral project site, while the former government failed to procure military helicopters for the country.
Solomon Owusu noted that Col. Aboagye and other top men in the military must point fingers at those who failed to invest in the military rather than attacking the NDC communicator Hamza Suhuyini over comments he made about the military’s poor handling of the tragic helicopter crash on August 6.
Speaking on TV3’s New Day, Solomon Owusu stated, “That is why resource allocation, buying a robust helicopter, wouldn’t cost you more than US$15 million.
“But we found US$22 million and gave it to David Adjayi to just design. David Adjaye got more than US$22 million to just design what we call the National Cathedral. We found US$97 million just to go and dig a hole. That is the priority of the nation, and not the army.
…and so, when these things come, I expect Col. Aboagye [and others] to face the music, look straight into those who have misinvested in this country to tell them enough is enough. Let us not embellish anything”, Solomon Owusu added.
Solomon Owusu noted that if indeed Ghana has only two active helicopters and one has crashed, the army is useless.
According to him, if Ghana is attacked today, the military cannot do anything because there are no helicopters to fly them.
Solomon Owusu on the show added, “Don’t let the military think they are above criticism. In any case, when someone uses the word useless, what does it mean? It means you are not being used to your optimal levels. He himself concluded that the Ghana Armed Forces is left with two helicopters, meaning that the army is below its level. Therefore, it is being used less; therefore, it is useless”.
“The Ghanaian can only measure whether or not the Ghana Armed Forces have done well by their actions and inactions after the fact. I dare say the way and manner they handled this issue from the civilian perspective was totally wrong, though we are waiting for a final report,” he stressed.
Somolon Owusu noted, “The visuals we have seen and the whole manner in which the military responded do not give us encouragement”.
“If those that are flying are only two, and one has crashed, it means that today, if we are attacked, our army will not be able to do anything; and so they are useless.”
If the army is supposed to fly in times of need, in times of difficulty, the army is supposed to go to the front line. We have no means for flying, they will just be idle, won’t they be useless?”.
Somolon Owusu further went on to call on the military to address Ghanaians, as they must not see themselves as an Island.
“The military must not assume that whatever they are doing, they are on an island and not responsible to us. They have to be explaining matters to us,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ghana lost eight people, including Dr Omane Boamah and Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, two cabinet members who passed away following a helicopter crash at Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region on Wednesday, August 6.
The helicopter was carrying eight individuals, including three crew members and five passengers, among them the ministers, a presidential staffer identified as Samuel Sarpong, and the ministers’ security detail.
Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, and Samuel Aboagye, a former Parliamentary Candidate, and Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of NDC, have all been confirmed dead.
The crew members are Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
Also, a state funeral will be held for Ghana’s eight fallen heroes tomorrow, Friday, August 15, 2025, at the Black Star Square in Accra.