Hon. Alhaji Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed’s death in the August 6 military helicopter crash has been met with profound sorrow across Ghana, with National Youth Authority (NYA) CEO Osman Ayariga paying a heartfelt tribute to the late Minister for Environment, Science and Technology.
Visiting the family home of the deceased, Ayariga described him as a political mentor and moral compass who shaped the paths of many young members of the National Democratic Congress.
“The first time I appeared on television to represent the NDC – the person who made that possible was Murtala Mohammed. At the time, he was the Deputy Minister for Information, and he deliberately pushed many of us into party communications and politics”
Osman Ayariga, National Youth Authority CEO
Ayariga expressed that Hon. Murtala Mohammed’s passing was not only a personal tragedy but a devastating loss for the NDC’s youth movement and for the country. In his words,
“He groomed and nurtured many young minds in the party. The circumstances of his death are painful. We are here to sympathize with the family. It’s hard, and the entire country is mourning”
Osman Ayariga, National Youth Authority CEO
The crash of the Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter on Wednesday morning in a forested area near Adansi Sikaman claimed the lives of eight people, including two cabinet ministers.
According to the Ghana Armed Forces, the aircraft had departed Accra at 9:12 am en route to Obuasi. Among the deceased were Hon. Murtala Mohammed and Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah.
Ayariga, who credits much of his political growth to Murtala Mohammed, described him as a man of truth who lived with conviction and detested corruption.
“He appeared to me as a big brother and mentor. He never hid his feelings. He stood for the truth always, and that’s what I will remember most about him. He was guided by his faith, detested corruption, and lived out his values”
Osman Ayariga, National Youth Authority CEO
Reflecting on the values that defined the late minister’s life, Ayariga said, “We will remember the few things he taught us and live by them.”
Grief Beyond Politics
The national grief transcended political affiliations, as New Patriotic Party Communications Director Richard Ahiagbah called on all Ghanaians to embrace unity during the mourning period.
He emphasized the need to honour the deceased without engaging in political point-scoring.
“It’s a lot of questioning and asking why, but God knows best. For us in the New Patriotic Party, we give our condolences. Some of them did not even say goodbye properly. We understand the loss of their families, we sympathise and stand with them as they go through the process for a final befitting send-off.
“These individuals transcend political colours. We will have plenty of time to do politics. Right now is not the time to engage in partisan posturing. Let’s reflect on the national mode of mourning. This can happen to anyone, regardless of who is in power”
Richard Ahiagbah, NPP Communications Director
Ahiagbah urged Ghanaians to treat the tragedy as a shared national sorrow and urged the need for people to come together and be one “over the dark storm that has befallen us.”
The crash has prompted a wave of reactions from civil society, political leaders, and international figures. President John Dramani Mahama has since declared a three-day period of national mourning. Flags are flying at half-mast across the country, with all celebratory state functions suspended.
As tributes continue to pour in, the legacy of Murtala Mohammed remains alive in the voices of those he mentored. For Osman Ayariga and many in the NDC youth wing, his loss is not just a political one – it is deeply personal.
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