My fellow countrymen and women. It is with a profoundly heavy heart that I address you tonight. Yesterday, a tragic helicopter crash in Adansi Akrofum claimed the lives of eight cherished members of our Ghanaian family.
The victims of this accident include five passengers and three dedicated members of the Ghana Armed Forces. (16:04) Among them were Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Minister for Defense, Alhaji Dr. Murtala Muhammad, Member of Parliament for Tamale Central and Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Alhaji Muniru Muhammad Limuna, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Samuel Sarpong, Vice-Chairman of the National Democratic Congress, Samuel Aboagye, Deputy Director General of NADMO, and Squadron Leader Peter Anala of the Ghana Air Force, Flying of Twum Ampadu of the Ghana Air Force, and Sergeant Ernest Addo also of the Ghana Air Force. This tragedy represents a deep personal loss for me.
I shared a close bond with many of those individuals who died. Our nation is grieving, and on behalf of the government and the people of Ghana, I extend my deepest condolences to their families, friends, and their loved ones. Know that our entire country mourns with you.
We share your pain. Your loss is our loss. A loss of dedicated public servants, intellectuals, and individuals who tirelessly worked for a better Ghana.
These eight individuals dedicated their lives to Ghana’s progress. That their final moments were spent in service is a testament to their unwavering commitment. We have lost some of our nation’s brightest minds, and this is a moment of shared heartbreak, a time to reflect on the preciousness of life, the sacrifices of public service, and our gratitude for those who dedicate themselves to the well-being of our fellow citizens.
Squadron Leader Anala, flying squadron leader and Sergeant Addo were dedicated members of our Air Force, embodying the best of their profession. Alhaji Muniru Muhammad Limuna was a humble yet effective public servant. Samuel Sarpong was a respected statesman, and Sergeant Addo was a promising young soldier.
Dr. Omane Boamah was a brilliant and dedicated leader, and Alhaji Dr. Murtala Muhammad was a passionate voice for his constituents and a champion for environmental stewardship. These gallant men each served Ghana with distinction, and as we mourn, questions about the cause of this tragedy are only natural and important, and I want to assure the families and the nation that the Ghana Armed Forces has initiated a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances of this crash. An investigative board of inquiry has been set up to investigate the cause of the crash.
The flight data and cockpit voice recorders have both been retrieved. All eight of the bodies of our departed comrades have been retrieved, and the government is in close touch with the bereaved families about identification of the bodies and final interment. In this moment of national grief, let us remember that we are above all Ghanaians, united not just by our nationality but by our shared hope, our shared humanity, and now our shared sorrow.
Let us set aside our differences and offer our collective compassion to the bereaved families. This is not a time for division, speculation, or political point scoring. It is a time for strength, for empathy, and for the enduring Ghanaian spirit that still stands tall when all else has failed.
Let our words be of comfort, our actions be of kindness, and our unity be the tribute we offer to those whose lives have been lost. To the families, to the Ghana Armed Forces, to the ministries and departments that have lost dedicated staff, and to the National Democratic Congress, which mourns the passing of valued members, may you find strength in their memory and their legacy.
May we all be comforted by the knowledge that though they are gone from our sights, they remain forever in the spirit of the nation they so faithfully served.
On Saturday, 9th August at 5pm, the nation will gather at the forecourt of the State House for an evening of reflection and memorial in honor of our departed colleagues. Books of condolences will be opened simultaneously at the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ghana Armed Forces Headquarters, and the National Democratic Congress Headquarters, and also the head office of NADMO.
From Sunday, 10th August to Thursday, 14th August. On Friday, 15th August, an interdenominational state funeral will be held for the eight heroes at the Black Star Square.
My brothers and sisters, my fellow countrymen and women, may God bless your souls, and may God bless our homeland, Ghana. And may your nation, great and strong, go to defend forever the cause of freedom, God. May your stories be told to others, and others who resist, our precious people, may God protect us all.
