The Government of Ghana will hold a state funeral on Friday, August 15, at Black Star Square in Accra for the eight individuals who died in a military helicopter crash earlier this week, President John Dramani Mahama announced in a national address on Thursday evening.
The victims include five senior civilian officials and three members of the Ghana Armed Forces.
They were attending to an official duty when the military aircraft went down in the Ashanti Region under circumstances that are still under investigation.
In his address, President Mahama confirmed that an investigative board of inquiry has been established by the Ghana Armed Forces, and that both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been recovered to aid the probe.
Ahead of the funeral, a national memorial and evening of reflection will be held on Saturday, August 9, at 5 p.m., at the forecourt of the State House in Accra. Books of condolence will be opened from Sunday, August 10 to Thursday, August 14 at the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NADMO headquarters, Ghana Armed Forces headquarters, and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) headquarters.
President Mahama described the accident as a “national tragedy”, and urged Ghanaians to set aside differences during the period of mourning.
“This is not a time for division, speculation, or political point scoring. It is a time for strength, for empathy, and for the enduring Ghanaian spirit that still stands strong when all else has failed,” he said during the televised address.
The eight victims have been identified as: Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence, Alhaji Dr. Murtala Muhammad, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology and Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Alhaji Muniru Muhammad Limuna, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress, Samuel Aboagye, Deputy Director General of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Squadron Leader Peter Anala, Ghana Air Force, Flying Officer Twum Ampedu, Ghana Air Force, Sergeant Ernest Addo, Ghana Air Force
President Mahama said the bodies of all eight victims have been recovered and are being handled in coordination with their families.
The helicopter was on an official assignment when it crashed. The exact cause remains unclear. The Ghana Armed Forces has not commented publicly on preliminary findings, but President Mahama said the investigation would be “full and transparent.”
The loss has drawn responses from across the political spectrum, with expressions of condolence from government agencies, political parties, civil society groups, and international partners.
For Ghana, the crash marks one of the deadliest air incidents involving high-level government and military officials in recent years.
In his remarks, President Mahama called for unity and restraint as the country comes to terms with the incident.
“In this moment of national grief, let us remember that we are above all Ghanaians, united not just by nationality, but by shared humanity and now shared sorrow,” he said.
Public institutions connected to the victims, including the Armed Forces, the Environment Ministry, and the NDC, are expected to suspend official engagements in the days leading to the funeral.
The state funeral on August 15 will be conducted as an interdenominational service, open to the public, with foreign missions, military delegations, and senior government officials expected to attend.
The government has not announced a national holiday, but flags remain to fly at half-mast nationwide until further notice.
By: Joshua Narh