By Christiana Afua Nyarko, GNA
Accra, Aug. 6, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama has called for stronger institutions and improved safety systems to honour eight public servants killed in the 2025 Z-9 helicopter crash.
He said the anniversary of the tragedy should serve as a reminder of the responsibility of national leaders to protect those who serve the country and strengthen systems that prevent avoidable losses.
President Mahama made the call at an interfaith memorial service held at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), to mark one year since the Ghana Air Force helicopter crash near Sikaman in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region.
He said remembrance was “an obligation for every grateful nation” and represented a reflection of the values and character of a society.
“A country that forgets those who serve it slowly forgets the values on which it is built. Memory is not simply about looking backwards; it is an act of national character. It affirms that sacrifice matters, that service is honoured and that lives dedicated to the nation will never disappear into the shadows of history,” he stated.
The President said the eight victims came from different professional backgrounds but were united by their commitment to national service.
He said none of them embarked on the journey expecting it to be their final assignment, leaving
behind families, responsibilities and aspirations.
President Mahama urged the country to recognise the sacrifices of public servants during their lifetime and not only after tragedy strikes.
He said the loss of the eight officials imposed a responsibility on leaders to strengthen public institutions, improve safety standards and invest in the welfare of personnel serving the nation.
“The greatest memorial we can build is not one made of stone or bronze. It is one built through responsible leadership, improved systems and a steadfast commitment to protecting those who dedicate their lives to Ghana,” he stressed.
The President expressed the condolences of the Government and people of Ghana to the bereaved families, acknowledging that no anniversary or public tribute could erase their pain.
He commended the families for their resilience over the past year and assured them that the nation continued to share in their grief.
Family representatives used the memorial service to pay tribute to the deceased, recalling their contributions to public service and the impact they had on their families and communities.
Representing the family of the late Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Alhaji Mustapha Abdul-Hamid said their faith had sustained them through the period of mourning.
Quoting Chapter 2, Verse 156 of the Holy Quran, he said the family had accepted God’s will and continued to draw inspiration from Dr Murtala Mohammed’s integrity, humility, compassion and commitment to humanity.
He described the late minister as a leader whose legacy was reflected in the lives he touched rather than only the offices he occupied.
A tribute on behalf of the family of Dr Samuel Sarpong, National Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), described him as a loving father, mentor and source of strength whose humility, patriotism and dedication remained an inspiration.
The families of the victims also paid tribute to one another, saying the tragedy had created a bond among them through a shared loss and a common determination to preserve the memory of their relatives.
Mrs Gloria Aboagye, widow of Samuel Aboagye, former Parliamentary Candidate for Obuasi East and Deputy Director-General of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), said the family continued to draw strength from his life and values.
She recalled her husband’s final words before travelling to Obuasi and said they had become a source of encouragement as she raised their two daughters.
Mrs Aboagye called on Ghanaians to honour his memory by continuing efforts 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 government officials, Members of Parliament, Service Chiefs, security personnel, religious and traditional leaders, relatives of the deceased and members of the public.
The victims of the crash were Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence; Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation; Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; and Dr Samuel Sarpong, National Vice Chairman of the NDC.
The others were Samuel Aboagye, former Parliamentary Candidate for Obuasi East and Deputy Director-General of NADMO; Squadron Leader Peter Baafemi Anala and Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu, pilots of the Ghana Air Force; and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah, an Air Force flight technician.
The Ghana Air Force Harbin Z-9 helicopter crashed on August 6, 2025, while carrying five passengers and three crew members from Accra to Obuasi for an official assignment linked to anti-illegal mining activities.
The crash, which occurred near Sikaman in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region, killed all eight occupants and resulted in three days of national mourning, a state funeral and an official investigation into the cause of the accident.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
6 Aug. 2026
Reporter: Christiana Afua Nyarko, GNA
christiana.nyarko.gna.org.gh