Ursula Wematu Asaghedewe (surrounded by family) reading her tribute at the state funeral
Ursula Wematu Asaghedewe, the wife of the late Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, recounted how her husband, devoted to national duty, had to leave her and their week-old daughter to return to service.
Reading her tribute during the interdenominational and interfaith state funeral held for the eight victims of the August 6, 2025, helicopter crash, Ursula recalled the sad circumstances surrounding his death despite their plans for the future.
“Two months ago, when you held my hand in the delivery room through the birth of our beautiful baby, Wenlie Wesoamo Anala, we had new hope for our future and expectations for our family and the life we wanted her to have. Ahh, Bafemi, I expected you to stay with me for at least a month to help us settle into our new reality, but for the love you had for our country, you had only just a week to spend with us,” the widow recalled.
LIVESTREAMING: State funeral of the 8 victims of the August 6 helicopter crash
She further recounted the touching memory of how their daughter held her father’s hand tightly during his departure back to Ghana to return to duty.
“Before you left, Wenlie held you back for an extra week because she was not feeling well. Now, I know why she was holding you back from returning to Ghana. But for your dedication to your work, you had to make the most difficult sacrifice, to go and serve our country, leaving behind a sick new baby and a new mother who was still healing,” she said.
She also recalled memories of their last two weeks together, which ended with a goodbye and a promise to return in October; a promise that could not be kept.
“Aaaah, Peter, two weeks only? Oh, what two weeks those were! Two weeks of endless kisses on Wenlie’s little face. I have never seen a broader smile than in the little time you spent with her. I did not want you to leave, but you promised me that come rain or shine, you would return in October for Wenlie’s christening,” she said.
St James Old Boys hold requiem mass for Squadron Leader Peter Baafemi Anala
The widow shared her difficulty in living her new reality, including the struggle she will face in nurturing a child without a father and how their baby will cope with the story of her father’s tragic demise.
“Eiiiiii, God! What am I going to tell her in a few years when she starts asking for her father? How do I explain that the hardships she is about to face, being fatherless, was not the life we planned for her when we brought her into this world? How do I keep her from learning about your traumatic last moments? How do I give her the life we planned for her all alone? Every morning, you would record a video of yourself telling me how your day would be and all the exciting things and places you would go,” she stated.
The widow emphasised how broken she has been left by the demise of Squadron Leader Bafemi Anala and expressed hope for his return while sharing her comfort that her husband died a devout Christian.
Story of how deceased Squadron Leader Peter Anala’s family lost three siblings in five months
“Bafemi, please come back. Please come and hold me and tell me this was all a very terrible nightmare and that it is over now. I am supposed to be consoled with the fact that you died knowing God and that there is rest for you until we meet again. But I cannot come to terms with this. I will forever cherish the moments I spent with you, and I certainly cannot wait for that glorious reunion,” Ursula emotionally added.
On August 6, 2025, a Ghana Air Force Harbin Z-9 military helicopter crashed into a forested mountainside in the Adansi Akrofuom District, Ashanti Region, killing all eight people on board.
The helicopter was en route from Kotoka International Airport in Accra to Obuasi for an event focused on combating illegal mining.
The deceased include Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Minister of Defence; Alhaji Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Minister of Environment, Science, and Technology; Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Dr Samuel Sarpong, 1st Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC); Samuel Aboagye, Deputy Director-General of NADMO; and three crew members: Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manaem Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
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