President John Dramani Mahama has urged leaders to ensure that the lessons from the August 6, 2025 military helicopter crash are not forgotten, calling for stronger institutions, improved safety standards and better protection for public servants.
Speaking at the National Inter-Faith Memorial Service in Accra on Thursday, August 6, 2026, to mark one year since the tragedy, President Mahama said the loss of the eight victims places a responsibility on leaders to build systems that prevent similar incidents in the future.
He said public office must be viewed as a responsibility and a sacred trust, stressing that decisions taken by leaders have direct consequences on the lives and safety of citizens.
“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.
President Mahama said the memory of the victims must inspire leaders to strengthen institutions, improve safety measures and prioritise the welfare of those who serve the nation.
“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 best way to honour the departed would not only be through monuments but through practical actions that improve systems and protect public servants.
“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.
The August 6, 2025 crash occurred in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region when a Ghana Armed Forces Z-9 helicopter travelling from Accra to the region on official duty crashed, killing all eight people on board.
The victims included Defence Minister Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah; Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed; Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Muniru Mohammed; former Ashanti Regional Minister Dr Samuel Sarpong; and former NDC parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye.
Three Ghana Armed Forces personnel — Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah — also lost their lives in the crash.
The memorial service brought together government officials, religious leaders, bereaved families and members of the public to honour the lives, service and sacrifices of the eight victims.
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