Former Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul has expressed deep sorrow over the military helicopter crash that killed eight individuals, including two sitting cabinet ministers, describing the incident as one of the gravest tragedies in Ghana’s recent history.
Speaking during the national mourning period following the August 6 crash, Mr. Nitiwul, who served as Defence Minister for eight years, said the magnitude of the loss remains difficult to comprehend. “It directly affects me because I was a minister for eight years. It could have been me,” he said in an emotional reflection.
Among the victims were:
Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence
Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, and MP for Tamale Central
Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator
Dr. Samuel Sarpong, National Vice Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress
Samuel Aboagye, a former parliamentary candidate
Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala
Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu
Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah
The group was en route to Obuasi for the launch of the Responsible Co-operative Mining and Skills Development Programme (COMSDEP), a government initiative aimed at addressing illegal mining, when the military aircraft went down.
“It’s a very sad situation for all of us,” Mr. Nitiwul said, offering condolences to the bereaved families, the Ghana Armed Forces, and the wider public. “The only one who can give and take is the Almighty,” he added. “We know that all of them are in the bosom of the Lord.”
Ghana has experienced aviation-related incidents in the past, but Mr. Nitiwul noted that the scale and profile of this tragedy make it particularly devastating. “We’ve had other air crashes, but losing eight people in service of the nation is a big loss to all of us.”
The former minister urged citizens to turn to faith for comfort, calling on Ghanaians to offer prayers for the deceased. “We can only pray for their souls—and that’s all they need now.”
He further remarked on the unifying nature of the national tragedy, noting the presence of individuals across the political divide at the memorial. “This is not about political parties. Today, it is about Ghana,” he said. “You see NDC, NPP—all of us together. That is the Ghana we need.”
Mr. Nitiwul concluded with a reflection on the personal toll such events take on families, highlighting how the victims left home unaware they would not return. “Some of them were very young, at the peak of their political careers,” he said. “Sometimes you just wake up, leave your house, and don’t come back. It is extremely painful.”
The cause of the crash is under investigation. A state funeral for the victims is scheduled for August 15 at Black Star Square in Accra.
