BY Issah Olegor
The National Democratic Congress government has announced detailed arrangements for a solemn state funeral to honour six victims of the August 6, 2025, military helicopter crash in Adansi Akrufuom, a tragedy that claimed the lives of eight distinguished Ghanaians, including prominent public figures and military officers.
The ceremony, scheduled for Friday, August 15, will be conducted with full military honours by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) at the forecourt of the State House in Accra.
It will be the second and final burial event for the victims, following earlier Islamic rites for two others.
Deputy Chief of Staff Stan Dogbe, addressing the press on Thursday, August 14, explained that the state funeral will unfold in three segments: morning prayers from both the Bible and Qur’an, the main state service, and the interment.
The pre-burial programme will run from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., with Vice President Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang expected to arrive at 8:50 a.m., followed by President John Dramani Mahama at exactly 9:00 a.m. to officially commence the service.
During the three-hour ceremony, biographies of all eight crash victims will be read, with tributes coming from widows, children, government officials, the military, and institutional representatives.
The event will also feature a roll call of honour for the deceased, symbolising the nation’s collective grief and recognition of their service.
Upon conclusion of the service, the bodies of Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, former Minister of Communications; Dr. Samuel Sarpong, a seasoned public servant; Samuel Aboagye, an accomplished technocrat; Squadron Leader Peter Baafemi Anala; Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu; and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah will be escorted under heavy military guard to the military cemetery at Tse Addo for burial.
The GAF will jointly oversee the interment with the respective religious bodies of the deceased.
Two other victims —Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed and Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Limuna, a respected politician — were buried on Sunday, August 10, in accordance with Islamic traditions, just four days after the crash.
The fatal incident occurred during a military operation in the Ashanti Region, when a Ghana Air Force helicopter went down in Adansi Akrufuom, killing all eight on board.
The crash prompted nationwide mourning, with flags flying at half-mast and investigations launched into the cause of the disaster.
Stan Dogbe appealed to the public to arrive early on Friday and strictly adhere to the security arrangements put in place for the high-profile event, which is expected to draw senior government officials, foreign dignitaries, and hundreds of mourners.
This burial will mark the final chapter in a week of national mourning — one that has tested the resilience and underscored the dangers faced by both civilian leaders and military officers in the line of duty.
