Ghana Peace
After days of grievously mourning the death of 8 persons who lost their lives tragically in a Z9 military helicopter crash some ten days ago, Ghana has held a national non-denominational state funeral service to round up a period of national angst.
The service was held at Ghana’s national square – the Independence/Black Star Square – on Friday 15 August 2025, with the remains of six of the 8 placed in caskets in state, for the other two, being Muslims, had been laid to rest earlier on Sunday 10 August 2025.
Consoling the nation in an address at the service, the President and Commander-In-Chief (C-In-C) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) – His Excellency (HE) John Dramani Mahama urged his compatriots not to try to make sense of the disaster, irrespective of the technical reasons, official explanations or yield of investigations.
“What we can do together as a nation, is to make sure that the lives of those who remain, specifically the children of our eight brothers, do not become the collateral damage of this tragedy. I humbly request the spirit of compassion that is the hallmark of our nation for these bereaved families”, the President said.
He thus announced the government’s decision to create the “CHILDREN’S SUPPORT FUND FOR CHILDREN OF VICTIMS OF THE 6TH AUGUST HELICOPTER CRASH”, with the purpose to ensure that the children left behind by the victims would never be deprived of the opportunities, care, and security that their parents worked so hard to provide for them.
The fund will cover education from primary school through to tertiary or technical training, healthcare – including medical insurance and specialized care, where required – and welfare support, clothing, shelter and essential living expenses.
The government will make an immediate seed contribution to the fund and will operationalize and publish a detailed framework of the Fund within the next 30 days, with annual public reporting on its uses, and create channels for contributions from citizens, corporate organizations, professional associations, and international partners.
Stanbic Bank – a commercial bank – has opened an account with an initial contribution of Five Hundred Thousand Cedis (GHS 500,000).
The C-In-C also announced the decision to posthumously promote ranks of the crew of the Z9 helicopter crash – Squadron Leader Peter Baafemi Anala to Wing Commander; Flying Officer Manaen Twum-Ampadu to Flight Lieutenant; and Sergeant Addo Mensah Ernest to Flight Sergeant; with all benefits due to their families.
For the civilian victims of the crash, the President announced that they will be posthumously recognized at the next National Honours ceremony.
In a tribute by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) for the late Defence Minister and the crew of the military aircraft, a citation read;
“Dr Edward Omane Boamah’s short tenure as Minister for Defence was marked by transformative leadership, innovation and unwavering commitment to excellence. As part of the broader agenda of resetting Ghana, he advocated and implemented policies that sought to raise the standards of GAF.
Paramount among these were the retooling and operationalization of GAF, championing merit-based recruitment and enlistment of service personnel, bridging the accommodation deficit gap of GAF, revitalization of the Defence Industries Holding Company, and prioritizing the welfare and healthcare delivery, including mental health of troops and veterans.
He was not just a boss or leader, he was a role model and to some, a mentor. The first encounter with him was full of quality of thoughts, that of industry with every spoken word which he carried with grace and honour.”
Of Wing Commander PB Anala, it said that he “was a pilot who had capability-combined advanced piloting skills and deep technical knowledge. He was commissioned into the operations branch of the Ghana Air Force in 2014.”
“After his initial pilot training in the United States, he was awarded both a Private and Commercial Rotorcraft License and an Advanced Instrument Rating Certification. His integration of Flight Safety Protocols into Operational Planning, enhanced mission success that contributed to armed forces efficiency.”
Of Flight Lieutenant M Twum-Ampadu, he was cited for being an exceptional Young Pilot;
“He was commissioned into the Operations Branch of the Ghana Air Force in 2021. After a distinguished performance at the Royal Air Force Training Academy in the United Kingdom, he demonstrated outstanding adaptability across diverse mission profiles.
Coupled with precision in navigation and flight execution, his meticulous approach to mission planning, briefing and post-mission analysis reflected a deep understanding of operational procedures.
Highly proficient in absorbing complex tactical concepts and translating them into flawless execution, he was a dependable co-pilot and a clear prospect for future Commanding Air Operations.”
Of Flight Sergeant Addo Mensah Ernest, he was referred to as ‘a Highly Proficient Aircraft Technician’ whose engineering expertise was vital to the operational availability, and mission readiness of the Z-9 helicopter fleet, of the No. 8 Helicopter Wing.
Enlisted in 2011 and certified in 2016, his diagnostic skills, adherence to Air Weapons Standards, and ability to execute time-sensitive maintenance tasks under operational conditions, directly sustained the Ghana Air Force’s operational capabilities. He was also an effective mentor, developing Junior Technicians to maintain high technical and operational standards.
After the service the remains were moved to the military cemetery, and have since been interred.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
