On August 6, 2025, Ghana was hit by a tragedy when eight of its compatriots perished in a ghastly helicopter crash in the Adansi area in the Ashanti Region. The unfortunate accident drowned the nation in sorrow as citizens home and abroad mourned the passing of the eight.
Since the day of the crash till they were interred on August 15 after a state funeral, the national discussion was about their demise, how their memories could be preserved and what could be done to avoid any such calamity in the future.
They were Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Defence Minister; Alhaji Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology and MP for Tamale Central, and Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna, Acting Deputy Coordinator, National Security and a former Minister for Food and Agriculture.
Others were Dr Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chair, National Democratic Congress and Samuel Aboagye, Deputy Director-General, NADMO and former NDC Parliamentary Candidate, Obuasi East.
The rest were crew members; Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, posthumously promoted to the rank of Wing Commander, Flying Officer Manaen Twum-Amadu, now Flight Lieutenant, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah, now Flight Sergeant.
As the news of the accident spread like wildfire amidst speculations about who might have been onboard the Z9 helicopter which was travelling to Obuasi for an event aimed at ensuring responsible small scale mining, all eyes were on the seat of government, the Presidency, to speak to Ghanaians, confirm the crash and reveal the identities of the victims.
There steps up the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, in his usual calm disposition. Supported by the Vice President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, and some ministers of state, Mr Debrah confirmed the news, revealed the identities of the victims, directed that all flags flew at half-mast and conveyed President John Dramani Mahama and the Government’s condolences to the bereaved families and the Ghanaian people.
After that fateful day, the Chief of Staff, as the head of President Mahama’s appointees, has provided leadership in arguably what has been the most difficult moment for the administration thus far.
Standing by President Mahama every step of the way until the remains of the victims were lowered into their final resting places, Mr Debrah ensured his former colleagues and servicemen received the honour they deserved.
From staying late in the night to receive the remains of the victims, the Chief of Staff led government delegations to the homes of some of the victims, and was also on hand to receive international mourners on behalf of President Mahama, who obviously was hard hit by the death of his appointees, party official and members of the Armed Forces of which he is the Commander in Chief. So devastated was the President that anytime he appeared in public, one could see how telling the death of the eight were on him.
Overwhelmed by sorrow and grief himself, Mr Debrah, alongside President Mahama, could not hold his tears as the President could not hold his when high government officials gathered at the Presidency Gardens, a day after the tragic incident, to lay flowers for the fallen heroes. His shoulder became the resting place for the devastated First Lady, Mrs Lordina Mahama, who broke down when she visited the Garden to lay a flower in memory of the deceased.
As he said in his tribute to the victims at the Evening of Reflections and Memorials,…”it will take a long while to forget or heal these scars” but the country must move on and honour the memories of the victims by continuing with their legacies of dedication and commitment to the state.
In that moment of national tragedy, the Chief of Staff demonstrated steeze and absolute support for his boss, the President, as they gave his former colleagues who tragically lost their lives in the ghastly accident a befitting farewell for their sacrifices.
As Chief coordinator of the government, Mr Julius Debrah has brought sanity and candour into the administration and same was evident in the final respect the state had for his late subordinates. A right hand man of the President, Julius Debrah has demonstrated a personality personifying trust and support for the President – standing by him and in his stead when the President could not in his lowest moment.
No wonder he was President Mahama’s Chief of Staff in the final two years of the first John Mahama administration, stuck with him for their eight years in opposition, traversed the nook and cranny of the country during the campaigns and now back in office again as the Chief of Staff. Everybody, indeed, needs a Julius Debrah by his side like President has.
The writer is the Presidential Correspondent for The Ghanaian Times
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI