Ghana was plunged into mourning this week after a tragic military helicopter crash claimed the lives of some of the nation’s most senior officials and service members. President John Dramani Mahama, in a solemn address to the nation, described the incident as a “national tragedy” and called for unity in grief and remembrance.
The crash, involving a Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter, occurred on August 6, 2025, and left eight people dead, including Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah and Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed. The aircraft was also carrying several military personnel, all of whom perished.
Speaking from Accra, a visibly shaken President Mahama suspended all official engagements and declared three days of national mourning, ordering flags to fly at half-mast across the country. “Our nation is united in grief,” he said, urging citizens to put aside divisions and “stand together in compassion and unity.” He extended condolences to the bereaved families and praised the fallen as individuals who “gave their lives in service to Ghana.”
The loss has shaken the highest levels of government, with Parliament halting proceedings to express solidarity and the Vice President leading visits to the families of the victims. The President moved swiftly to ensure the continuity of government by appointing Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson as acting Defence Minister until a permanent appointment is made.
Eyewitness accounts and preliminary reports indicate that the crash occurred during official travel, though the cause has not yet been determined. Military investigators have been dispatched to the scene, and the Ghana Armed Forces have pledged full transparency once inquiries are complete.
Across the country, the mood has been heavy with sorrow. Churches and mosques have held special prayers, while community vigils are being organized in memory of the deceased. International messages of condolence have also poured in from African leaders and global partners, many of whom have worked closely with the late ministers on regional security and environmental initiatives.
As the black drapes and lowered flags mark this period of national loss, President Mahama’s words echoed the shared sentiment of the moment: that Ghana’s resilience will be tested, but its unity must remain unbroken. In his closing remarks, he reminded the nation that “the shared grief of a people can be the seed of renewed commitment to service, duty, and sacrifice—the very ideals for which these men and women lived and died.”
“My fellow Ghanaians,
Today, our nation is united in grief. Yesterday’s helicopter crash claimed the lives of eight dedicated public servants—brave men and women who gave their lives in service to Ghana. Among them were our Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, and our Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, as well as military personnel and national leaders.
This is a national tragedy. Parliament has paused to express solidarity, and all flags will fly at half-mast until further notice.
I have suspended all official engagements and declared three days of national mourning, beginning today.
In this time of sorrow, I urge every Ghanaian to stand together—not in division, but in compassion and unity. Let us offer our heartfelt condolences to the families of those we have lost and honor their legacy of service. Happy Ghana
To ensure continuity in governance, Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson will temporarily assume the responsibilities of Defence Minister. Reuters+1
May our shared grief bind us, and may it inspire renewed commitment to the ideals of service, duty, and sacrifice that these individuals embodied.”
