President John Dramani Mahama has called on national leaders to ensure that the painful lessons from the August 6, 2025 military helicopter tragedy are never forgotten, urging stronger institutions, improved safety standards and greater commitment to protecting public servants who risk their lives in service to Ghana.
Speaking at a National Inter-Faith Memorial Service held at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), yesterday to mark the first anniversary of the crash, President Mahama said the loss of eight public officials must serve as a catalyst for responsible leadership and systemic reforms.
He said the tragedy imposed a solemn duty on leaders to build systems capable of preventing similar incidents in the future and to ensure that those who dedicate their lives to national service receive the protection and support they deserve.
“Today should also be a moment of reflection for all of us who are entrusted with leadership, that every decision we make affects lives. Every public office is ultimately a sacred trust,” President Mahama stated.
The President said leadership was not measured only by the authority exercised but by the responsibility carried for the welfare, safety and lives of people serving under the state.
He described the anniversary as a moment when the nation deliberately slowed down to remember and reflect on the sacrifice of those who died while carrying out their duties.
“Exactly a year ago, Ghana awoke to news that none would have wished to hear. In a single tragic moment, eight precious lives were cut short in a helicopter accident while in service of the nation,” he said.
President Mahama noted that while some tragedies affect only families and communities, others touch the conscience of an entire nation, describing the Z-9 helicopter crash as one such tragedy.
He recalled the shock and grief that followed the announcement of the accident, saying the silence that engulfed the country was filled with disbelief, unanswered questions and sorrow.
The Ghana Air Force Harbin Z-9 helicopter crashed near Sikaman in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region on August 6, 2025, while transporting officials from Accra to Obuasi for an official assignment linked to efforts against illegal mining.
The crash claimed the lives of all eight occupants — five passengers and three crew members — and led to national mourning, a state funeral and investigations into the cause of the accident.
The victims were Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence; Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and Member of Parliament for Tamale Central; Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; and Dr Samuel Sarpong, National Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The others were Samuel Aboagye, Deputy Director-General of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO); Squadron Leader Peter Baafemi Anala; Flying Officer Manaen-Twum Ampadu; and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah, all of the Ghana Air Force.
President Mahama said although the eight victims came from different professional backgrounds, they were united by a common commitment to serve Ghana.
He said they boarded the helicopter without knowing it would be their final journey, just as thousands of public servants leave home every day to perform their responsibilities without expecting tragedy.
“They left behind unfinished conversations, appointments they expected to keep, families they expected to return to, and dreams they believed they still had time to fulfil,” he said.
“The greatest lesson this anniversary teaches us is that life is fragile, service is sacred, and tomorrow can never be guaranteed.”
The President also used the occasion to urge Ghanaians to appreciate public servants while they are alive rather than only after tragedy strikes.
He acknowledged the sacrifices made by security officers, civil servants and other national workers who endure difficult conditions, spend time away from their families and take risks because they believe in Ghana’s progress.
“Too often, we celebrate such service only after tragedy strikes,” he said, calling for greater recognition and support for those who serve the country daily.
President Mahama assured the bereaved families of continued national support, expressing the condolences of the government and people of Ghana.
He acknowledged that no speech or ceremony could erase the pain of losing loved ones, but said the sacrifices of the victims would remain permanently etched in the nation’s memory.
“No speech can erase your pain. No address can fill that empty space at your dining table. And no ceremony can replace the voices that you long to hear,” he said.
He added that the victims belonged not only to their families but to the entire nation, assuring that “Ghana will continue to remember them.”
The President said the best tribute to the departed would not be monuments made of stone or bronze but a commitment to responsible governance, stronger systems and improved protection for those who dedicate their lives to Ghana.
“The greatest memorial we can build is one that is built through responsible leadership, improved systems and a steadfast commitment to protecting those who dedicate their lives to Ghana,” he said.
Family members of the deceased also paid emotional tributes, highlighting the values, dedication and service of their loved ones.
Representing the family of Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Alhaji Mustapha Abdul-Hamid said faith had sustained them through the period of mourning. He described the late minister as a compassionate leader whose legacy was reflected in the lives he touched.
A tribute for Dr Samuel Sarpong described him as a loving father, mentor and patriot whose humility and commitment to public service remained an inspiration.
Mrs Gloria Aboagye, widow of Samuel Aboagye, said the family continued to draw strength from his values and called on Ghanaians to honour his memory by continuing the fight against environmental destruction and illegal mining.
“The truest tribute we can pay is not another speech. It is to finish the work they set out to do,” she said.
The memorial service was attended by Vice-President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, government officials, Members of Parliament, service chiefs, security personnel, religious and traditional leaders, relatives of the victims and members of the public.
