…One year after helicopter crash
President John Dramani Mahama has unveiled a cenotaph immortalizing the late Defence Minister, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, at the Ministry of Defence in Accra, marking exactly one year since he and seven others died in a Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) helicopter crash.
The memorial, unveiled yesterday, Thursday, August 6, 2026, exactly one year after the tragedy, features a statue of the late minister and is intended to serve as a permanent tribute to his service, leadership, and sacrifice.
Following the unveiling, President Mahama lit a memorial candle on behalf of the nation in honour of Dr Omane Boamah and the seven other victims of the crash.
Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang lit a candle on behalf of the Armed Forces Council, while the Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, who is serving as caretaker Defence Minister, lit a candle on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.
The ceremony, organized by the Ministry of Defense, was attended by government officials, members of the GAF, clergy, family members, friends, colleagues, and other dignitaries.
Addressing the gathering, President Mahama described Dr Omane Boamah as “one of a rare kind”, paying an emotional tribute to a man he said had been a loyal friend, trusted adviser and steadfast supporter throughout his political career.
“His immortalizing is personal for me. Omane was a great human being. His kind is difficult to find in our world today. His love for me is undoubted; he was a friend, a loyalist, and a close adviser. He stood by my side all through my political career. His service to the nation will never be forgotten,” the President said.
He also extended the nation’s sympathies to the late minister’s family, friends, and colleagues.
The unveiling followed a National Inter-Faith Memorial Service held earlier in the day at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), to commemorate the eight victims of the August 6, 2025, helicopter crash.
The service brought together government officials, religious leaders, traditional authorities, members of the GAF, bereaved families, and other dignitaries. Religious leaders offered prayers and messages of comfort while urging Ghanaians to preserve the deceased’s values and legacy through lives of service and sacrifice.
Speaking at the memorial service, President Mahama said the lessons from the tragedy must never be forgotten and urged leaders to strengthen institutions, improve safety standards, and safeguard those who serve the country.
He stressed that every decision taken by public officials has consequences for people’s lives, describing public office as a sacred trust rather than merely a position of authority.
“Today should also be a moment of reflection for all of us who are entrusted with leadership, that every decision we make affects lives. Every public office is ultimately a sacred trust,” he said.
The President said the memory of the victims imposed a solemn obligation on the nation to build stronger institutions and improve the welfare and protection of public servants.
“Their memory therefore imposes upon us a solemn obligation to build stronger institutions, to strengthen safety standards wherever necessary, to invest in the welfare of our personnel, and to ensure that no lesson from this tragedy will ever be forgotten,” he stated.
He added that the most enduring tribute to the victims would not be physical monuments alone but meaningful reforms that improve governance and protect those who dedicate their lives to national service.
“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, and a steadfast commitment to protecting those who dedicate their lives to Ghana,” President Mahama said.
The victims died when a GAF Z-9 helicopter crashed in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region while travelling from Accra to the Ashanti Region on official duty.
Those who lost their lives were Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah; Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed; Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed; NDC National Vice Chairman, Dr Samuel Sarpong; former parliamentary candidate, Samuel Aboagye; Flight Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah; Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala; and Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu.
The commemorative activities formed part of a nationwide observance to honour the service, sacrifice and enduring legacy of the eight individuals who lost their lives in the line of duty.
The family of Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, appealed to Ghanaians to continue praying for the bereaved families, saying the pain of the tragedy remains deeply felt a year on.
A family representative, Percy Anala, said the passage of time had done little to ease the grief caused by the loss of their loved one.
He noted that the late officer’s absence continues to leave a significant void, particularly for his wife, young daughter, mother, and the wider family, who are still adjusting to life without him.
Despite the difficult year, Percy Anala said the family has drawn strength from God’s grace, as well as the prayers, encouragement, and kindness shown by Ghanaians since the tragedy.
“We ask you to keep the families of the fallen in your prayers. Though time passes, grief remains. Your ongoing love, encouragement and support are priceless,” he appealed.
He also reflected on the family’s painful journey, saying, “Today marks one year since our lives changed forever. Though a year has passed, it feels like yesterday. The loss of our beloved Peter Bafemi Anala remains profoundly painful.
“The last year has not been easy. We have faced grief, unanswered questions, and difficult adjustments, especially for his wife, young daughter, mother, and the entire family.”
The wife of the late Flight Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah has paid an emotional tribute to her husband and the seven other victims of the August 6, 2025, military helicopter crash, saying the pain of losing them remains as deep today as it was a year ago.
She described the past 12 months as a difficult period marked by grief, reflection, and healing.
She said the tragedy had left an irreplaceable void in the family, noting that they had lost not only a husband, son, and brother, but also someone whose optimism and warmth brought joy to everyone around him.
“We stand here today with hearts that still remember, still mourn and still honour the life of our beloved husband, son and brother, Flight Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
“Today, we stand 12 months removed from a tragedy that still feels painfully near. A day that completely altered our lives as a family.
“I, for one, have never known a person more optimistic than Ernest. You could hardly remain sad around him. He would crack jokes and laugh at them more than you would. And before long, you would find yourself smiling and forgetting the burden that had troubled you.”
She said the family had drawn strength from the support of friends, colleagues, and well-wishers throughout the past year.
She also expressed gratitude to President Mahama for honouring the memory of the victims and supporting the bereaved families, as well as to the GAF for its continued care and assistance.
“As we honour the memory of the eight fallen heroes, we choose to remember not the tragedy that took them from us, but the lives they lived, the love they had for their families, their dedication to duty and the values they carried with honour,” she said, urging Ghanaians to uphold the values of service, sacrifice and compassion exemplified by the deceased.
