Renowned broadcaster and morning show host, Kwame Sefa Kayi, has called on Ghanaians to remember President John Mahama in their prayers as the nation grieves the loss of eight individuals in Wednesday’s military helicopter crash.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Newsfile on Saturday, August 9, Mr Sefa Kayi reflected on the immense personal and political toll the tragedy may have had on the President.

“I think more of us should bear President Mahama up in prayers despite our collective grief. He must be the most broken person in spite of our collective grief,” he said, noting that the victims included some of the President’s most trusted associates.

Among those who perished in the crash were Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Muniru Mohammed, former Obuasi East NDC Parliamentary Candidate Samuel Aboagye, and NDC Vice Chairman and former Kumasi Mayor Dr. Samuel Sarpong. The three military crew members who also died were Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Mane-Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.

The Z-9 military helicopter was en route to Obuasi for the launch of the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme when it lost contact with radar and crashed in the Dampia Range Forest Reserve in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region.

Mr Sefa Kayi also urged the public to extend their prayers and sympathies to all the victims and their families, describing the incident as a painful blow to the country.

President Mahama has directed that all national flags fly at half-mast while investigations into the cause of the crash are underway.