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A sorrowful atmosphere enveloped the Jubilee House yesterday as President John Dramani Mahama, Vice-President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, and top government officials joined grieving families and the public in a solemn flower-laying ceremony to honour eight departed souls, including two government ministers, who tragically lost their lives in last Wednesday’s helicopter crash.
Held under full military protocol, the emotional event saw President Mahama lay two flowers in memory of the deceased, followed by Vice-President Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, who placed a bouquet of white roses at the ceremonial grounds.
Defence Minister, Dr Edward Omane Boamah and Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Alhaji Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, were on the helicopter heading for a national assignment in Obuasi in the Ashanti Region when the disaster struck at Adansi-Brofoyedu in the Adansi Akrofuom District.
The other persons on the flight were the acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, who was on his first official assignment after he was appointed a fortnight ago; a National Vice-Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Samuel Sarpong; a parliamentary candidate in the 2024 elections and Deputy Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Samuel Aboagye; Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, the pilot on the helicopter; Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu, the co-pilot, and Sergeant Ernest Addo-Mensah, a crew member.
Other tributes
The Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, also paid his respects in a moving display of national grief.
The National Chairman of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, and the party’s General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, laid flowers in honour of their fallen comrades, while the National Security Coordinator and the Chief of the Defence Staff laid theirs on behalf of the National Security Secretariat and the Ghana Armed Forces.
The Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Asiama, was the last dignitary to lay flowers, after which members of the public took turns to pay their respects with bouquets and wreaths.
The mood at the Jubilee House remains heavy as the nation grapples with the shocking loss.
The helicopter crash, which occurred last Wednesday, has sent waves of grief across the country.
President Mahama, visibly moved, stood in quiet reflection as military personnel maintained a guard of honour throughout the ceremony.
The event concluded with a minute of silence, as Ghanaians nationwide continued to mourn the tragic incident.
A leading member of the NDC, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, later called for external experts to investigate the crash.
In an interview, he said that although he was close to some of the victims of the crash and was grieving, he believed that the technical side of the accident must be probed.
“I understand for some years now it has been having challenges,” he said, referring to the helicopter.
Musician and showbiz act, Rex Omar, emphasised the call for investigations into what caused the crash.
“This has never happened in the country before, so I support those calling for a full-scale investigation,” he said.
