President Mahama Declares Three Days of National Mourning, Suspends Official Activities After Helicopter Crash
President John Dramani Mahama has suspended all scheduled official activities and declared a three-day period of national mourning beginning Thursday, August 7, 2025, in response to the tragic Ghana Air Force Z9 helicopter crash that claimed eight lives on August 6, 2025.
The announcement, delivered by Minister for Government Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu, follows the devastating incident in Adansi Akrofuom, Ashanti Region, which has been described as a “national tragedy.”
The victims, as confirmed by Chief of Staff Julius Debrah during an emergency press briefing at the Jubilee House, include:
Dr. Edward Omane Boamah – Minister for Defence
Dr. Alhaji Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed – MP for Tamale Central and Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation
Alhaji Muniru Mohammed – Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator
Dr. Samuel Sarpong – Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress
Samuel Aboagye – Former Parliamentary Candidate
Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala – Pilot, Takoradi Air Force Base
Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampedu – Co-pilot, Takoradi Air Force Base
Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah – Flight Technician, Takoradi Air Force Base
The helicopter, en route to Obuasi for the launch of the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), lost radar contact at 09:12 GMT and crashed into a tree, bursting into flames.
The mortal remains of the deceased were received at Burma Camp in Accra on Wednesday evening, draped in national flags, during a solemn military ceremony.
Ofosu stated, “The government, through the Chief of Staff, has directed that all flags must fly at half-mast until further notice.” Debrah, addressing the nation, extended condolences, saying, “The President and the government express our deepest sympathies to the families of our comrades and the servicemen who died in service to the country.”
The crash has prompted widespread grief, with condolences from former President Nana Akufo-Addo, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and international partners, including Indonesia and the British High Commission. Investigations into the cause of the crash, potentially linked to adverse weather, are ongoing. The nation remains in mourning, with the Western Region particularly affected, as all three crew members were from Takoradi Air Force Base.
