ACCRA – President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday joined the nation at the National Inter-Faith Memorial Service held at the Accra International Conference Centre, marking one year since the tragic military helicopter crash of August 6, 2025, which claimed the lives of eight devoted servants of Ghana.
The solemn ceremony brought together political leaders, military top brass, religious clergy, traditional rulers, diplomats, and the grieving families of the deceased, all united in a collective act of remembrance for the eight patriots who perished while on official duty.
In his keynote address, President Mahama described the anniversary as a moment not only of grief but of national reckoning. He reminded Ghanaians that remembrance is both a sacred duty and a true measure of national character.
“To remember is not merely to mourn; it is to commit ourselves to the values for which these men and women gave their lives,” the President said. “We honour them best not through words alone, but through responsible leadership, selfless service, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to protecting those who serve this Republic.”
He extended his deepest condolences to the bereaved families, assuring them that the nation continues to stand with them in their grief and their resilience.
“Your loss is Ghana’s loss. Your pain is our pain. And though we cannot bring them back, we can ensure that their sacrifice was not in vain,” he added. “The legacy of the ‘Departed 8’ will forever inspire generations to place duty above self-interest and serve Ghana with integrity.”
The tragedy and the victims
The helicopter crash occurred on August 6, 2025, when a Ghana Air Force Z-9 aircraft went down in the Adawso area of the Eastern Region during a routine administrative flight. All eight personnel on board perished instantly. The victims were:
· Hon. Dr. Edward Omane Boamah – Former Deputy Minister for Defence and a respected academic known for his strategic oversight of peacekeeping operations.
· Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed – Senior technical adviser at the Ministry of Defence, widely recognised for his expertise in security sector reform.
· Dr. Samuel Sarpong – A medical doctor and public health specialist attached to the military, who had led emergency response training initiatives.
· Alhaji Muniru Mohammed – A veteran civil servant with decades of administrative service in the defence establishment.
· Mr. Samuel Aboagye – A senior logistics officer who coordinated critical supply chains for military deployments across West Africa.
· Squadron Leader Peter Anala – A decorated pilot with over 2,000 flight hours, who had served in UN peacekeeping missions in Liberia and Lebanon.
· Flying Officer Manaen Twum – A promising young aviator, posthumously cited for his exceptional airmanship.
· Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah – A veteran flight engineer whose technical expertise had saved multiple missions from mechanical failure.
A year of inquiry and reform
In the 12 months since the tragedy, the Ministry of Defence has commissioned a full independent inquiry into the crash. While preliminary reports cited adverse weather and potential pilot error, final findings remain pending. The families and civil society groups have continued to call for transparency and accountability, a request President Mahama acknowledged in his address, pledging that the government would ensure a thorough and impartial conclusion to the investigation.
The anniversary has also prompted renewed efforts to improve aviation safety within the Ghana Armed Forces. The Ministry has introduced enhanced weather-monitoring systems, upgraded maintenance protocols, and expanded simulator training for pilots—measures aimed at preventing a repeat of such a loss.
Dignitaries in attendance
The service was attended by Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, and other senior government officials. The Ghana Armed Forces High Command was led by the Chief of Defence Staff, while religious leaders from Christian, Muslim, and traditional faiths offered prayers and reflections. Members of the diplomatic corps, including representatives from ECOWAS and the African Union, also paid their respects.
A nation remembers
Flags flew at half-mast across all public buildings, and a minute of silence was observed at 10:00 a.m. nationwide, coinciding with the time of the crash. Churches, mosques, and community centres held parallel prayer vigils, while in schools and workplaces, citizens paused to reflect on the sacrifice of the eight.
The service concluded with a joint benediction delivered by the clergy, after which President Mahama and Vice President Opoku-Agyemang laid wreaths at a temporary memorial erected in honour of the fallen.
A pledge for the future
In his closing remarks, the President reiterated that Ghana would not forget. “We owe it to the departed, to their families, and to our nation to build a country worthy of their sacrifice. That is the truest monument we can raise.”
As the congregation filed out in solemn silence, the chaplain of the Ghana Armed Forces offered a final prayer: “May the souls of Hon. Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Dr. Samuel Sarpong, Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, Mr. Samuel Aboagye, Squadron Leader Peter Anala, Flying Officer Manaen Twum, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah continue to rest in perfect peace.”
