President John Dramani Mahama has described the deaths of eight people, including two ministers, in the August 6 military helicopter crash as a “deep personal loss,” reflecting on his close relationships with many of the victims.
In a national address on August 7, Mahama said, “This tragedy represents personal loss for me. I shared a bond with many of those who died. Our nation is grieving.”
He offered condolences to the families and called for national unity during this difficult time. “This is not a moment for division or political point-scoring. It is a time for empathy, strength, and solidarity,” he said.
The crash, which occurred in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region, claimed the lives of:
- Dr. Edward Omane Boamah – Minister for Defence
- Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed – Minister for Environment, and MP for Tamale Central
- Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed – Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator
- Dr. Samuel Sarpong – NDC National Vice Chairman
- Samuel Aboagye – Former parliamentary candidate
- Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala
- Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu
- Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah
The officials were on a mission to Obuasi when the Ghana Armed Forces Z-9 helicopter crashed under still-unknown circumstances.
Earlier that day, President Mahama led a wreath-laying ceremony at the Jubilee House Ceremonial Gardens. Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, top officials, military personnel, and grieving families were in attendance.
A three-day national mourning period has been declared, and investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing.
