His Royal Majesty Ndan Ya-Na Abukari II, King of Dagbon, has expressed profound sorrow and extended heartfelt condolences to the government and People of Ghana following the tragic military helicopter crash at the Dampia Range Forest Reserve in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region.

The devastating accident claimed the lives of eight distinguished Ghanaians, including two indigenes of Dagbon, Alhaji Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Mutala and Alhaji Muniru Mohammed. The crash is a monumental tragedy, unlike any the nation has witnessed in recent memory.

In a solemn statement, the King paid tribute to the fallen, describing them as “men of valour and intellect, with unwavering dedication to the progress, security, and prosperity of our motherland,” echoing the words of Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah.

His Royal Majesty conveyed the collective grief of the Kingdom of Dagbon.

“On behalf of the Chiefs and People of Dagbon, I offer prayers for the eternal rest of their noble souls,” he said. “May the Almighty Allah, in His infinite mercy, grant them Jannatul Firdaus and provide strength and comfort to the grieving families and the nation.”

The King urged all Ghanaians to renew their commitment to national unity and stability, underscoring the urgent need to tackle the ongoing menace of illegal mining, locally known as galamsey.

“This tragedy must renew our determination to uphold the unity and stability of our nation and combat the galamsey menace in the country,” he emphasised.

He further aligned himself with calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash, stressing that the lives and service of those lost will forever be honoured.

“His Royal Majesty the King of Dagbon, therefore, associates himself with the calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to the tragic crash,” the statement reads.

Reflecting on the legacy of the fallen, the King concluded, “The lives they led and the service they provided shall never be forgotten.”