BY Daniel Bampoe
The Minority Caucus has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic military helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, which claimed the lives of eight Ghanaians, including two cabinet ministers, senior political figures, and members of the Ghana Armed Forces.
The incident, confirmed earlier in the day by Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, has plunged the nation into mourning.
According to initial reports, the Ghana Armed Forces Z-9 helicopter was on an official mission to Obuasi when it went off radar and later crashed, leaving no survivors.
Victims of the Crash
Those who perished are:
1. Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah – Minister for Defence
2. Dr Alhaji Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed (MP) – Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation
3. Alhaji Muniru Mohammed – Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator and former Minister for Food and Agriculture
4. Dr Samuel Sarpong – First Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)
5. Samuel Aboagye – Former Parliamentary Candidate
6. Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala – Ghana Air Force
7. Flying Officer Mane-Twum Ampadu – Ghana Air Force
8. Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah – Ghana Air Force
Minority Leader’s Personal Reflections
In an emotionally charged statement, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin described the crash as “a profound human loss that touches the very soul of our nation.”
He paid special tribute to Defence Minister Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Murtala Mohammed, reflecting on personal interactions that transcended partisan lines.
“Hon Dr Alhaji Murtala Mohammed and I may have sat across the parliamentary aisle, but we shared countless moments of genuine discourse about Ghana’s future. His passion for environmental protection transcended party politics,” Afenyo-Markin said.
On Dr Omane Boamah, he remarked, “He brought to his role as Defence Minister a scholar’s intellect combined with a patriot’s heart. He was deeply committed to modernising our armed forces whilst preserving the values that make the military a source of national pride.”
Call for National Unity
The Minority Leader extended condolences to President John Dramani Mahama, describing the loss as one that affects the entire country, regardless of political affiliation.
“Your loss is our loss; your grief is our grief. In this moment of national tragedy, we stand united with you as Ghanaians mourning together,” he said.
Honouring the Fallen
The Minority Leader called for the victims to be honoured through renewed commitment to public service, environmental stewardship, and national security.
“Let us channel our grief into renewed determination to build the Ghana they envisioned — where public service is a sacred trust and every citizen can contribute to national progress,” he urged.
All national flags have been ordered to fly at half-mast until further notice as investigations into the cause of the crash continue.
