Former Sekondi MP Andrew Egyapa Mercer says organisers of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) planned demonstration were not informed that August 6 had been designated as a National Remembrance Day for victims of the helicopter crash.
According to him, the lack of communication from the Police raises questions about efforts to prevent or reschedule the demonstration, particularly if organisers were unaware that a major national event had been planned for the same day.
Speaking on Adom TV’s Badwam, Mr Mercer said the Police have a responsibility under the Public Order Act to engage organisers of demonstrations whenever there are conflicting events.
“No communication was given to the organisers of the demonstration that August 6 had been designated as a National Remembrance Day,” he said.
He explained that if the Police were aware of the government’s decision to designate August 6 for the national remembrance, they should have informed the organisers when they notified the Police of the planned demonstration.
“Because the Public Order Act requires that if you want to organise a demonstration, you go to the Police for a permit. So, if you go to the Police and there is an event which will make the demonstration impossible to come on, they inform you. If you have to change the date, they inform you,” he said.
Mr Mercer argued that such communication would have given the organisers the opportunity to consider changing the date of the protest.
He also stressed that the helicopter crash claimed the lives of people across the political divide and should not be viewed through partisan lenses.
“Some of us had personal relationships with ministers of state who lost their lives. Omane Boamah was my friend. My children and his children attend the same school. Murtala Mohammed, when we were in Parliament, was a very good friend of mine,” he said.
Mr Mercer said the deaths of former Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah and former Environment, Science and Technology Minister Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed were deeply personal to him.
“Their deaths affected everyone, both NDC and NPP, because the life of a person is not politics,” he added.
He further argued that national mourning for the helicopter crash victims should not overshadow other Ghanaians who have lost their lives in national tragedies.
“On June 29, it rained, and in excess of 20 Ghanaians lost their lives. On July 1, we had the President and Ministers of State in white at the Forecourt of the State House.
“I am asking: those who lost their lives, aren’t they important?” he questioned.
No communication was given to the organisers of the demonstration that August 6 had been designated as a National Remembrance Day. – Andrew Egyapa Mercer#Badwam pic.twitter.com/uwDbKMCd5o
— Adom TV (@adom_tv) August 5, 2026
