By Iddi Yire
Accra, Aug 09, GNA – Flags are flying at half-mast at the Presidency and across the country, signifying a period of national grief and mourning.
In fact, the mood at the Presidency is one of Sombre and deep reflections.
President John Dramani Mahama has declared a three-day national mourning for two Cabinet Ministers and six other public officials, who died in their line of duty on August 6, 2025, in a military helicopter crash at Adansi Akrofuom in Ashanti Region.
Within the past three days, people from all walks of life have gathered at the Ceremonial Garden of the Presidency to lay flowers in honour of the departed eight gallant heroes or simply to pause and reflect.
At the Ceremonial Garden of the Presidency over the past three days, mourners clad in black paid their last respect to the departed gallant men, indeed, some could not hold back their tears.
The President in this period of national pain and grief, has cancelled all his scheduled assignments for the week as a mark of respect for the departed heroes.
Among the first to lay flowers at the Ceremonial Garden of the Presidency on Thursday, August 7, was President John Dramani Mahama and Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang.
Indeed, it was one of deep sombre, as the lenses of cameras captured the President lifting his spectacles to clean tears from his eyes.
Mr Julius Debrah, the Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, National Chairman of the NDC and Mr Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, the General Secretary of the NDC, also laid flowers in memory of the departed gallant heroes at the Presidency Ceremonial Garden.
The victims of Wednesday, August 6, 2025, tragic helicopter crash in Adansi Akrofuom include Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Minister of Defence and Alhaji Dr Murtala Muhammed, Member of Parliament for Tamale Central and Minister of Environment, Science, and Technology.
Others are Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Limuna, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Dr Samuel Sarpong, First National Vice Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Mr Samuel Aboagye, Deputy Director-General of National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO).
The rest are Squadron Leader Peter Anala, Flying Officer Twum Ampadu and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah, all from the Ghana Air Force.
The President in a broadcast to the nation said: “This tragedy represents a deep personal loss for me. I shared close bonds with many of these individuals who died.
“Our nation is grieving. On behalf of the government and the people of Ghana, I extend my deepest condolences to their families, friends, and oved 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.
“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 Ghana.”
Among the high-profile dignitaries who were at the Ceremonial Garden of the Presidency to lay flowers in honour of the departed gallant heroes were the First Lady, Mrs Lordina Mahama with three of her children, Shafik, Sharaf and Farida.
The First Lady who was flanked by three of her children and some senior Government officials could not hold back her tears.
Sierra Leonean President Dr Julius Maada Bio, Chairman, ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Friday, commiserated with President John Dramani Mahama and the People of Ghana on the military helicopter tragedy.
President Bio laid a wreath on behalf of the Government and People of Sierra Leone and the ECOWAS subregion at the Ceremonial Garden of the Presidency in Accra.
He also signed a book of condolence in honour of the fallen heroes.
Some dignitaries, who were also at the Presidency Ceremonial Garden to lay flowers were former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 general election.
The former Vice President described the demise of the eight Ghanaians as a big loss to the nation.
Others were Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Vice-Presidential Candidate of the NPP in Ghana’s 2024 general election, Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, Chairman of the NDC Council of Elders, and Nana Akosua Frimpomaa Sarpong Kumankumah, the Flagbearer for the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) in the 2024 general election.
Acting Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie led a Delegation of the Judiciary to lay flowers at the Presidency Ceremonial Garden, also appealed to Ghanaians to unite as one people in the face of the national tragedy.
Mr Edward Korbly Doe Adjaho, the Chairman of the Council of State; and Mr Bernard Ahiafor, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament and some NDC Members of Parliament were in attendance on day one of the three-day national mourning to lay flowers in memory of the dead.
Religious leaders, Service Chiefs of the Ghana Armed Forces, and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Christian Tetteh Yohuno also laid flowers.
As the nation is in tears over the demise of the eight gallant heroes, the outpouring of messages of condolence from across all political parties, civil society organizations and all well-meaning Ghanaians, demonstrates the spirit of unity and togetherness in the face of adversity.
The Government has scheduled Friday, August 15, 2025, as the day for an inter-denominational state funeral at Blackstar Square in Accra for the eight gallant heroes.
In the words of President Mahama “May we all be comforted by the knowledge that, though they are gone from our sight, they remain forever in the spirit of the nation they so faithfully served”.
GNA
Kenneth Odeng Adade
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