By Patience Gbeze/Edward Dankwah
Accra, Aug. 15, GNA – The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has paid tribute to the late Samuel Aboagye, the former Deputy Director-General in charge of Protocol, one year after his death in the fatal helicopter crash that claimed eight lives.
The tribute was made at a one-year memorial service held in loving memory of Mr Aboagye, where colleagues, friends and family gathered to honour his life, service and contributions to NADMO and the nation.
Major (Rtd) Dr Joseph Bikanyi Kuyon, Director-General of NADMO, said the memorial service was not only an occasion to mourn the late Mr. Aboagye but also an opportunity to celebrate the legacy and footprints he left behind at the organisation.
He described the deceased as a son, husband, father, and comrade whose sudden passing had left a profound impact on his family, colleagues, and the nation.
Major (Rtd) Dr Kuyon said although people died every day, some deaths had a deeper impact on the spirit and social cohesion of a nation, describing the August 7, 2025, helicopter crash as one such tragedy.
He noted that the incident brought the country together in grief over the loss of eight people with diverse talents and potential to contribute to Ghana’s development.
“The memorial service is therefore an opportunity for NADMO and the bereaved family to reflect on Mr Aboagye’s life and the positive contributions he made during his service to the organisation,” he added.
He expressed condolences to the family of the late Mr. Aboagye and the families of all those who lost their lives in the crash and prayed for God’s continued strength and comfort for them.
Major (Rtd) Dr. Kuyon urged the bereaved families and colleagues to draw strength from the legacies left by the deceased, saying their contributions and memories would continue to live on.
He prayed that God would continue to strengthen the families and grant them comfort as they mark one year since the tragic incident.
Reverend Hinson Mensah, embarking on the memorial service exhortation, urged Ghanaians to live purposeful lives and build legacies that would continue to impact others even after their death.
He said life should not be measured only by the number of years a person spends on earth but also by the love shared, lives touched, sacrifices made and positive differences left behind.
Rev. Mensah said memorial services provided an opportunity for people to reflect on the brevity and preciousness of life while considering the significance of how they lived and the impact they had on others.
Quoting Ecclesiastes 3:1, which says, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven,” he said although people may not always understand God’s timing, Christians must trust that their lives remain in His hands.
He said the limited nature of human life should encourage people to make meaningful use of their time and relationships.
Drawing from Psalm 90, Rev. Mensah urged Christians to “number their days” and apply their hearts to wisdom, stressing that a person’s true worth extended beyond material possessions.
He said a person’s legacy was also reflected in the lives they influenced, the children and families they raised, the people they encouraged, and the service they rendered to others.
He encouraged the bereaved family and mourners to remember not only the physical absence of their loved one but also the moments shared, lessons learned, kindness experienced and memories created.
“Death may take a person from our presence, but it cannot erase the impact that person made,” he stressed.
Rev. Mensah challenged mourners to reflect on the kind of legacy they were building and what they would want people to remember about them when their earthly journey ended.
He said the values imparted to children, encouragement given to friends, service rendered to others, and love shared with family, could continue from one generation to another.
He urged Christians not to grieve without hope, emphasising that for those who are in Christ, death is not the end of life.
Rev. Mensah encouraged the mourners to allow the life and legacy of their departed loved one to inspire them to live better, love more deeply, serve faithfully and maintain a closer relationship with God.
He called on Christians to strive to live lives worthy of the words of Apostle Paul: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith,” with the hope of ultimately hearing, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
GNA
Edited by Christabel Addo