President John Dramani Mahama has paid tribute to the eight Ghanaians who lost their lives in the tragic helicopter crash, saying their memory represents a reminder of the values of service, sacrifice, and national duty.

Speaking during the National Inter-Faith Memorial Service held in Accra on Thursday, August 6, President Mahama said the occasion was not only about mourning the fallen officers but also about honouring the purpose and principles for which they lived and served.

“We gather not to relive that pain, but to give it meaning. We gather because remembrance is an obligation for every grateful nation,” he said.

He said a nation that fails to honour those who served it risks losing sight of the values that define its identity.

“Memory, therefore, is not simply about looking backwards. It is an act of national character and value. It affirms that sacrifices matter and that service is honoured and that lives dedicated to the nation will never disappear into the shadows of history,” President Mahama added.

Reflecting on the lives of the fallen, the President said the eight Ghanaians came from different backgrounds and professions, each with their own dreams and personal stories, but were united by a shared commitment to serve.

“The eight Ghanaians we honour today came from diverse backgrounds and diverse professions. They had different dreams, different personalities and different stories. And yet they were united by one common purpose,” he said.

President Mahama noted that the officers answered the call to serve both God and country, unaware that their final journey would be aboard the helicopter that carried them to their deaths.

“None of them boarded that helicopter, expecting that it would be their final journey. Like countless public servants every day, they set out to perform their duties,” he said.

He added that the tragedy left behind families, unfinished plans, and dreams that would never be realised.

“They left behind unfinished conversations, appointments they expected to keep, families they expected to return to, and dreams they believed they still had time to fulfil,” he added.

According to him, the anniversary of the tragedy serves as a reminder of the uncertainty of life and the importance of honouring those who dedicate themselves to national service.

“That is perhaps the greatest lesson this anniversary teaches us: that life is fragile, that service is sacred, and tomorrow can never be guaranteed,” he said.

The memorial honours eight prominent Ghanaians whose lives were cut short in the air crash while they were undertaking official national duties. Their sudden deaths plunged the nation into mourning, prompting an outpouring of grief from citizens across the country and tributes from the international community.

The victims were Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence; Alhaji Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology and Member of Parliament for Tamale Central; Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Limuna, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Samuel Sarpong, Vice-Chairman of the National Democratic Congress; Samuel Aboagye, Deputy Director-General of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO); Squadron Leader Peter Baafemi Anala; Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu; and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah of the Ghana Air Force.

The eight lost their lives when the military helicopter crashed in the Adansi area of the Ashanti Region while en route to Obuasi on official government business.

Their passing was regarded as a significant national loss, not only because of the positions they occupied but also because of their commitment to duty, leadership and national development.