By Issah Olegor
President John Dramani Mahama has paid an emotional tribute to the eight victims of the tragic Ghana Armed Forces helicopter crash that claimed the lives of two serving ministers, senior government officials and military personnel exactly one year ago, assuring their families that the nation continues to mourn alongside them.
Speaking during an interfaith memorial service held to commemorate the first anniversary of the August 6, 2025 tragedy, President Mahama acknowledged that while a year has passed since the devastating accident, the pain suffered by the bereaved families remains immeasurable.
Addressing relatives of the deceased, the President conveyed the condolences of the Government and the people of Ghana, admitting that no words or ceremony could erase the grief they continue to endure.
“To the bereaved families, permit me once again to convey the deepest condolences of the government and the people of Ghana. I know that no speech can erase your pain, no anniversary can fill that empty seat at your dining table, and no ceremony can replace the voices that you long to hear,” President Mahama said.
He commended the families for their courage and resilience over the past year, describing their strength as an inspiration to the nation.
“You have borne your grief with remarkable courage and dignity, and in doing so, you have reminded all of us that love does not end with death; it endures in memory, faith and the lives we choose to live thereafter,” he stated.
The President further assured the families that the country has not forgotten their loved ones, stressing that their sacrifice would forever remain part of the national history.
“Please rest assured that the nation still mourns with you, and your loved ones did not die alone; they belong to all of Ghana, and we will continue to remember them,” he added.
President Mahama described the deceased as patriotic and selfless public servants whose commitment to national service would continue to inspire future generations.
The memorial service marked one year since the fatal helicopter crash on August 6, 2025, when a Ghana Armed Forces Z-9 helicopter travelling from Accra to Obuasi in the Ashanti Region on an official assignment crashed at Adansi Akrofuom.
The tragedy claimed the lives of Defence Minister Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Limuna, former Ashanti Regional Minister Dr Samuel Sarpong, former Obuasi East NDC parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye, as well as three Ghana Air Force personnel—Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
The interfaith memorial service brought together government officials, members of the security services, religious leaders, relatives of the deceased and members of the public to honour the memory of the eight individuals whose deaths shocked the nation.
The anniversary ceremony served as a solemn reminder of one of Ghana’s worst aviation tragedies in recent years, with calls for the country to continue remembering the sacrifices of those who lost their lives in service to the nation
