Vice President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, on Saturday,August 9,called for national unity and introspection in the wake of a military helicopter crash that claimed eight lives, including two sitting cabinet ministers and senior military officers.
Speaking at an official memorial service held at the Forecourt of the State House in Accra, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang emphasized the need to learn from the tragedy rather than assign blame.
“This is not a time for perfect words nor a time for the right thoughts, because there are none,” she said during the Evening of Reflection and Memorial. “The departed served their nation and humanity well.”
The August 6 crash has reverberated across Ghanaian society, drawing widespread mourning and renewed scrutiny of military aviation safety protocols. The Vice President, who offered personal recollections of some of the deceased, described the moment as one of profound collective grief.
Among the victims were:
Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence
Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, and Member of Parliament for Tamale Central
Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator
Dr. Samuel Sarpong, National Vice Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC)
Samuel Aboagye, a former parliamentary candidate
Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala
Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu
Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah
In her remarks, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang discouraged political opportunism in the aftermath of the disaster, warning against “point-scoring” and urging the public to focus instead on “attention to detail and to facts” to prevent future occurrences.
She also took the occasion to challenge what she described as "unhelpful barriers" within national discourse, calling for solidarity in moments of crisis. “It is a time for the rest of us to renew our pledge to work in ways that truly advance our country, as they have tried to do,” she said.
Funeral arrangements are already underway. The two Muslim victims — Dr. Muhammed and Alhaji Muniru — are scheduled to be buried on Sunday, August 10, in accordance with Islamic rites. Janazah prayers will be held at 2:00 p.m. at the State House Forecourt, followed by interment at the Military Cemetery in Accra at 2:30 p.m.
A state funeral for all eight victims is planned for Friday, August 15, at Black Star Square.
The government has yet to release findings on the cause of the crash. A formal investigation is expected to be announced in the coming days.
