On Thursday, August 7, 2025, the serene grounds of the Ceremonial Gardens at Jubilee House became a place of solemn remembrance.
The Presidency hosted a heartfelt wreath-laying ceremony in honor of the eight lives tragically lost in a military helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region just a day prior.
The nation plunged into a period of grief as the government declared a three-day national mourning in memory of those who perished, including two esteemed members of the cabinet: Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed. They were not alone in their final journey, as six others, including senior military personnel and party officials, also met with this untimely fate.
Draped in black, President John Dramani Mahama stood at the forefront of the gathering, flanked by Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyeman and Chief of Staff Julius Debrah. The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, was present, alongside Members of the Council of State, family members, friends, government officials, security personnel, and members of the public. Each participant laid their wreath, a gesture of respect and remembrance for the fallen heroes who had dedicated their lives to serve the nation.
As the day unfolded, it became clear that this tragic incident would be remembered as one of the darkest moments in Ghana’s recent history, uniting the country in sorrow. The collective grief extended beyond the government officials; it touched the hearts of many who saw these individuals not just as leaders, but as pillars of strength within their communities.
Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, alongside Dr. Omane Boamah, left a significant impact in their respective fields as they served the nation. The tragedy also took the lives of Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed, former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye, and NDC National Vice Chairman Dr. Samuel Sarpong. The air force crew members, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah, were also mourned by their comrades and the public alike.
The national mourning period will persist until Saturday, August 9, when it will culminate in an “Evening of Reflections and Memorials” at the Forecourt of the State House, allowing all to come together in unity and reflection. In the closeness of their shared grief, the nation awaits the announcement of the state funeral and burial plans for its lost leaders.
As the funeral arrangements take shape, the collective memory of those lost will not fade, but rather live on in the hearts of a nation that pauses to honor their service and sacrifice.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen
