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By: Opoku Bright Acheampong
Accra, August 9, 2025
President John Dramani Mahama has delivered an emotional tribute to the eight Ghanaians who tragically
lost their lives on Wednesday 6’s military helicopter crash, describing the event as “a moment of shared heartbreak” and “a loss not just to families, but to the nation.”
Addressing the nation in
a solemn televised speech from the Jubilee House on Friday night, President Mahama announced a state funeral will be held in honour of the deceased on Friday, August 15, at the Black Star Square in Accra. The President also declared the opening of Books of Condolence at major government institutions beginning
Sunday, August 10, through Thursday, August 14.
The crash, which occurred on August 6, claimed the lives of high-profile public figures and military personnel, including:
Dr. Edward Kofi Omane
Boamah, Minister for Defence
Alhaji Dr. Murtala
Mohammed, Minister for Environment and MP
Alhaji Muniru Mohammed
Limuna, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator
Samuel Sarpong, Vice
Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)
Samuel Aboagye, Deputy
Director-General of NADMO
Squadron Leader Peter
Anala, Ghana Air Force
Flying Officer Tsum
Ampadu, Ghana Air Force
Sergeant Ernest Addo,
Ghana Air Force
These were not just names
in government registers—they were fathers, husbands, sons, friends, and
patriots, the president said in his address. “Our nation is grieving, and on behalf of the government and the people of Ghana, I extend my deepest
condolences to their families, friends, and loved ones.”
Mahama offered personal
reflections on many of the deceased, calling Dr. Omane Boamah “a brilliant and dedicated leader” and describing Alhaji Murtala Mohammed as “a passionate voice for his constituents.” He praised the courage and dedication of the Air Force personnel who died in the line of duty, hailing their “unwavering service to country.”
“This is not a time for
division, speculation, or political point‑scoring,” Mahama said with visible emotion. “It is a time for strength, for empathy, and for the enduring Ghanaian spirit that still stands tall when all else has failed.”
He confirmed that a full investigation is underway, led by the Ghana Armed Forces’ Board of Inquiry. He added that both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been
retrieved to aid the process. “We will get answers, not just to mourn, but to
prevent future tragedies,” he assured.
In his closing remarks, Mahama asked for national unity in the face of sorrow. “May we all be comforted by the knowledge that though they are gone from our sight, they remain forever in the spirit of the nation they so faithfully served,” he said. “May God bless their souls, and may God bless our homeland, Ghana.”
The tragic accident has triggered an outpouring of grief across the country, with messages of solidarity coming from political leaders, civil society organizations, and foreign missions. Flags continue to fly at half-mast nationwide in honor of the departed.