President John Mahama
SOME MEMBERS of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, Catholic Bishops, and Anglican Bishops paid a courtesy call on President John Dramani Mahama yesterday to commiserate with him and the people of Ghana following the tragic helicopter accident that claimed the lives of eight individuals, including two Ministers of State.
His Eminence Cardinal Peter Appiah Turkson, along with Most Reverend Dr. Cyril Kobina Ben-Smith (Archbishop) of the Anglican Diocese, and Most Reverend Matthew Gyamfi, representing the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, led the two religious institutions to pay a courtesy call at the residence of the President.
Speaking at the function, Cardinal Turkson expressed condolences to the families and the government while offering special prayers for the President.
President Mahama expressed his grief over the passing of the eight individuals, emphasising that the tragedy has traumatised him.
He indicated that the Ministers of State were part of his ‘BIG PUSH’ agenda to help reset the country for the betterment of citizens.
President Mahama called on the Christian community to intensify prayers for the nation, saying, “I am calling for continued prayers from you all regarding the state.”
Chiefs
The Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs also visited President Mahama to commiserate with him over the passing of the eight individuals in the military helicopter crash.
Led by Regional Minister Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, they expressed their condolences to the President, pledging their support for developing the country.
The helicopter crash on August 6, 2025, will forever be a day of remembrance following the tragic loss of Minister for Defence Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah and Minister for Environment, Science and Technology Alhaji Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed.
Among the deceased were National Democratic Congress (NDC) Vice Chairman Dr. Samuel Sarpong; Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna; former parliamentary candidate of the NDC, Samuel Aboagye, and three military personnel: Squadron Leader Peter Baafemi Anala, Flying Officer Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) will today, Friday, August 15, 2025, hold a full military funeral at Black Star Square for the other six victims who died in the tragic helicopter crash on August 6, 2025.
Air Commodore Thomas Niifio Okai, Director General of Human Resources at GAF General Headquarters, briefed the media on preparations, saying the ceremony will be “essentially military in nature” and led by the Ghana Armed Forces Chaplaincy with support from selected civilian clergy.
On Sunday, August 10, a solemn Islamic burial ceremony was held for the late Minister for Environment, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, and former Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Muniru Limuna Mohammed at the Forecourt of the State House.
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke