By Daniel Bampoe
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has expressed profound sorrow over the tragic loss of eight individuals — five top government officials and three military crew members — who perished in a helicopter crash on Wednesday, August 6, 2025.
The incident occurred in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region and has since plunged the entire nation into mourning.
In a statement issued on Thursday, August 7, GJA President Albert Kwabena Dwumfour extended the Association’s deepest condolences to the bereaved families, particularly the spouses and children of the deceased, as well as to President John Dramani Mahama, the Government of Ghana, and the Ghana Armed Forces.
The statement emphasized the magnitude of the loss and called for collective national support during this difficult period.
“The GJA is absolutely devastated by the tragic death of these gallant public servants,” the statement read.
“Our hearts are heavy with grief, and we stand in solemn solidarity with the nation in this moment of great national loss.”
The eight individuals, including Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, were reportedly on a mission to address the escalating problem of illegal small-scale mining, commonly known as galamsey, when the military helicopter transporting them went down.
Their deaths are viewed as a major setback to the national campaign against environmental degradation and illegal mining.
The GJA praised the commitment of the late officials, noting that their efforts symbolized “integrity, service, and progress” for Ghana.
The Association also recalled its warm working relationships with both Dr. Omane Boamah during his tenure as Minister for Communications and Murtala Mohammed when he served as Deputy Minister for Information under the first Mahama administration.
“We remember their openness to the media and their commitment to press freedom and national development,” the statement noted, adding that their legacies should be preserved and honoured.
In addition to condolences, the GJA commended the swift response by security personnel, emergency services, and medical teams who worked tirelessly to recover the remains of the victims and ensure their dignified transfer to medical facilities.
Their professionalism, the GJA stated, was commendable in the face of overwhelming grief and national shock.
The Association also used the occasion to urge journalists and media houses to demonstrate the highest standards of professionalism, empathy, and ethical responsibility in covering the tragedy.
Specifically, it cautioned against the publication or circulation of disturbing images from the crash site.
“We entreat media practitioners across all platforms, including traditional and new media, to be ethical, circumspect, and sensitive. We must honour the memory of the departed by treating this incident with the dignity and respect the deceased deserve,” the GJA said.
Citing the emotionally charged atmosphere, the GJA announced the suspension of all planned national activities until further notice in solidarity with the grieving families and the country.
