President John Dramani Mahama has reassured the families of the eight officials who died in the August 6, 2025 military helicopter crash that their loved ones will never be forgotten, stressing that the nation continues to share in their grief one year after the tragedy.
Speaking at the National Interfaith Memorial Service held in Accra on Thursday, August 6, to commemorate the first anniversary of the crash, the President acknowledged the immense pain the bereaved families continue to endure and pledged the government’s unwavering support.
He said the eight victims served Ghana with dedication and patriotism, adding that their sacrifice would remain an enduring part of the country’s history.
Addressing the families directly, President Mahama admitted that no words or ceremony could erase the pain caused by their loss but assured them that the country continued to stand by them.
“To the bereaved families, permit me once again to convey the deepest condolences of the government and the people of Ghana. I know that no speech can erase your pain, no anniversary can fill that empty seat at your dining table, and no ceremony can replace the voices that you long to hear,” he said.
The President commended the families for their resilience over the past year, saying they had demonstrated remarkable courage in the face of unimaginable loss.
“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 added.
He further assured the bereaved families that the nation would continue to honour the memory of the deceased.
“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,” he stated.
The memorial service marked one year since the Ghana Armed Forces Z-9 helicopter crashed in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region while transporting government officials and military personnel on an official assignment from Accra.
The crash claimed the lives of 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 the helicopter crew—Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
The memorial formed part of activities to honour the lives, service and sacrifices of the eight individuals whose deaths remain one of Ghana’s most tragic aviation disasters.
