By Iddi Yire, GNA
Accra, Aug. 06, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama has on the first anniversary of the August 6th Military Helicopter Tragedy, assured families of the victims of continued national support.
The President in his tribute at the National Interfaith Memorial Service held at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), to mark the first anniversary of the tragedy, reconveyed the deepest condolences of the Government and People of Ghana to the bereaved families.
“I know that no speech can erase your pain. No addresses can fill that empty space at your dining table. And no ceremonies can replace the voices that you long to hear or the embraces that you still miss. You bore your grief with remarkable courage and dignity over the past year. In doing so, you have reminded all of us that love does not end with death.” the President said.
He said “It endures in memory, in faith, and in the lives we choose to live thereafter. Please rest assured that the nation still mourns with you. Your loved ones did not die alone. They belong to all of Ghana. And Ghana will continue to remember them.”
The President said: “Today is one of those days when a nation deliberately slows its pace, not because history demands it, but because memory does.
He stated that exactly a year ago, Ghana awoke to news that none would have wished to hear, as in a single tragic moment, eight precious lives were cut short in a helicopter accident while in service of the nation, adding that some tragedies unfold quietly within families and communities.
He reiterated that some tragedies touch the conscience of an entire nation, and this was one such, recalling that the silence that followed the announcement was unlike any other.
President Mahama noted that it was a silence that was filled with disbelief, grief, and countless unanswered questions; saying “It was just like yesterday, and all of us”.
The President said the eight Ghanaians being honoured, though came from diverse backgrounds and professions, with different dreams, personalities, and stories, yet they were united by one common purpose, being their answered call to serve God and country.
He said none of them boarded the helicopter expecting that it would be their final journey, stating that like the countless public servants every day, they set out to perform their duties.
The President noted that the victims left behind unfinished conversations, appointments they expected to keep, families they expected to return to, and dreams they believed they still had time to fulfill.
“That is perhaps the greatest lesson this anniversary teaches us is that life is fragile, service is sacred, and tomorrow can never be guaranteed,” he said.
“As President, I have often reflected on the enormous sacrifices made by the men and women who dedicate their lives to public service and yet much of their work often go unnoticed.”
President Mahama said these officers traveled long distances, spent countless hours away from their families, endure difficult conditions, make decisions under pressure, accept risks because they believe that Ghana’s progress was worth every effort they put in; saying “and too often, we celebrate such service only after tragedy strikes.”
“Today we must resolve to appreciate public service even as it is performed daily. To appreciate those who labour faithfully, often without recognition, because they believe in something that is greater than themselves,” he said.
President Mahama said every nation had moments that tested not only its institutions, but also its humanity, cautioning that leadership was not measured merely by the authority being exercised, but by the responsibility they bore for the lives and welfare of those who served under them.
He noted that the memory of the departed, therefore imposed upon all leadership a solemn obligation to build stronger institutions, to strengthen safety standards wherever necessary, to invest in the welfare of their personnel, and to ensure that no lesson from this tragedy would ever be forgotten.
“The greatest memorial we can build is not one made of stone or bronze. It is one that is built through responsible leadership, improved systems, a steadfast commitment to protecting those who dedicate their lives to Ghana,” he said.
“My fellow citizens, our faith teaches us that death is not the end. Whether we are Christians or Muslims, whether guided by traditional beliefs or by another path of faith, we all hold on to the conviction that every life has meaning beyond the years we count on earth, and that is why we have gathered today in an interfaith service,” the President said.
In attendance at the National Interfaith Memorial Service was Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang and other state officials.
The eight distinguished Ghanaians who lost their lives in the August 6, 2025, helicopter tragedy while on national assignment include Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, the Minister for Defence; and Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, and Member of Parliament for Tamale Central.
Others were Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed, the Deputy National Security Coordinator; Dr Samuel Sarpong, National Vice Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Mr Samuel Aboagye, Deputy Director-General of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).
The rest were Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala; Flying Officer Manaen-Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah, all of the Ghana Air Force.
GNA
Edited by Christabel Addo