President John Dramani Mahama has urged Ghanaians to set aside political differences and come together in grief and solidarity following Wednesday’s fatal military helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region, which claimed eight lives.
In his first national address since the tragedy, the President described the incident as a moment that demands compassion, restraint, and unity rather than political division or speculation.
“This is not a time for division, speculation, or political point-scoring,” President Mahama said from the Jubilee House on Thursday.
“In this moment of national grief, let us remember that we are, above all, Ghanaians — united not just by nationality but by shared hope, shared humanity, and now, shared sorrow,” the President said.
The Z-9 military helicopter was en route to Obuasi when it went off radar and crashed in a dense forest. Among the dead were Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Muniru Mohammed, NDC Vice-Chairman Samuel Sarpong.
The rest were former parliamentary candidate for Obausi East Samuel Aboagye, and three Ghana Armed Forces personnel — Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah. There were no survivors.
READ: Gov’t sets up board of inquiry to investigate helicopter crash
The President extended condolences to the bereaved families, the Ghana Armed Forces, the affected ministries, and the National Democratic Congress, describing the victims as “heroes who served their country with dedication and honour.”
As part of the mourning arrangements, books of condolence will be opened from Sunday, 10 August, to Thursday, 14 August, at multiple locations, including the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ghana Armed Forces Headquarters, the NDC national headquarters, and NADMO head office.
READ: Mahama leads nation in mourning victims of helicopter crash
A state funeral, to be held on Friday, 15 August 2025, at Black Star Square, will feature full military honours and inter-denominational prayers in tribute to the victims.
Meanwhile, President Mahama revealed that an Investigative Board of Inquiry has been constituted to determine the cause of the crash.
He confirmed that both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been recovered, and that all eight bodies have been retrieved.
The government is in close contact with families to finalise identification and burial arrangements.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
