President John Dramani Mahama has assured the families of the eight people who died in the August 6, 2025 Ghana Armed Forces helicopter crash that the nation continues to grieve with them and will not abandon them.
The President made the assurance on Thursday, August 6, 2026, during a national inter-faith memorial service held to mark one year since the tragedy that claimed the lives of eight Ghanaians while on official duty.
In a solemn address, President Mahama described the deceased as patriotic public servants and military personnel who gave their lives in service to the country.
He acknowledged that while a year has passed since the crash, time has not erased the pain of losing loved ones, particularly for the families who continue to live with their absence.
“To the bereaved families, permit me once again to convey the deepest condolences of the government and the people of Ghana,” the President said.
He noted that no ceremony or speech could take away the pain of the families or replace the loved ones they lost.
“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 said.
President Mahama assured the families that the loss was not theirs alone, stressing that the victims belonged to the entire nation and would continue to be remembered.
“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.”
The August 6, 2025 crash occurred in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region when a Ghana Armed Forces Z-9 helicopter travelling from Accra to the region went down during an official assignment.
Those who lost their lives were 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; former Ashanti Regional Minister Dr Samuel Sarpong; former NDC parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye; and three Ghana Armed Forces personnel — Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
One year on, the memorial service offered the nation an opportunity not only to honour their service and sacrifice, but also to stand alongside the families who continue to carry the weight of their loss.
