President John Dramani Mahama has led a one-year commemorative interfaith service honouring the eight Ghanaians who died in a helicopter crash while serving the nation, addressing bereaved families, government officials and religious leaders gathered to mark the anniversary of the August 6, 2025 tragedy.
President Mahama opened his address by describing the significance of collective remembrance, framing the gathering as an act of national obligation rather than a routine ceremony.
“Today is one of those days when a nation deliberately slows its pace not because history demands it, but because memory does. Exactly one year ago, almost to the hour, on the morning of 6 August 2025, Ghana awoke to news that none of us would have wished to hear. In a single tragic moment, eight precious lives were cut short in a helicopter accident while in service of our nation”.
President John Dramani Mahama
He recalled the shock that gripped the country in the immediate aftermath of the crash, describing a silence that carried the weight of collective grief. “The silence that followed that announcement was unlike any other. It was a silence that was filled with disbelief, grief, and countless unanswered questions. It was just like yesterday, and all of us can remember that moment and exactly what we were doing,” he said.
Remembrance as a Marker of National Character
President Mahama explained that gathering a year later was not meant to relive the pain of the tragedy, but to give that loss lasting meaning within the nation’s collective memory.
“Today, a year later, we gather not to relive that pain, but to give it meaning. We gather because remembrance is an obligation for every grateful nation. A country that forgets those who served it slowly forgets the values on which it is built”.
President John Dramani Mahama
The President reflected on the diverse backgrounds of the eight Ghanaians honoured during the service, noting that despite their differences, they shared a common commitment to national service.
“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. They answered the call to serve God and country”.
President John Dramani Mahama
He described the ordinary nature of their final journey, emphasising how none of them anticipated the tragedy that would follow. “None of them boarded that helicopter expecting that it would be their final journey. 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 said.
Condolences to the Bereaved Families
President Mahama extended direct condolences to the families of the departed, acknowledging that no ceremony could fully address the depth of their loss.
“To the bereaved families, permit me once again to convey the deepest condolences of the government and people of Ghana. I know that no speech can erase your pain. No anniversaries can fill that empty seat at your dining table. And no ceremonies can replace the voices that you long to hear or the embraces that you still miss”.
President John Dramani Mahama
He praised the families for the strength they had shown throughout the past year, framing their resilience as a broader lesson about love and memory. “You’ve borne your grief with remarkable courage and dignity over the past year. In doing so, you have reminded all of us that love does not end with death. It endures in memory, in faith, and in the lives we choose to live thereafter,” he said.
President Mahama highlighted the acts of kindness and solidarity he had witnessed over the past year from Ghanaians across the country, many of whom had no personal connection to the eight victims.
“I’ve seen people who had never met any of the eight departed. Nevertheless, they offered prayers, encouragement, and support to the bereaved families. I’ve seen religious communities, traditional authorities, members of the security services, and citizens from every corner of our country standing together with these families in solidarity”.
President John Dramani Mahama
He described this unity as a powerful tribute in itself, transcending political, ethnic, and religious divisions. “Those moments remind us that beyond our politics, beyond our ethnic differences, beyond our religious beliefs, remain one people, united by our common humanity. That unity is perhaps the greatest tribute we can offer to those we have lost,” he said.
A Shared Prayer Across Faiths
President Mahama closed his tribute by reflecting on the interfaith nature of the memorial service, noting that despite different religious traditions, all present shared a common hope for the departed.
“We come from different traditions, but we lift up one prayer. We come with different expressions of worship, but with one shared hope. We pray that the Almighty God in his infinite mercy has welcomed our departed brothers into eternal peace”.
President John Dramani Mahama
He urged Ghanaians to carry forward a renewed sense of purpose in honour of those who died, calling for greater integrity, kindness and commitment to national service. “Let us honour the departed by serving our nation with greater integrity. Let us honour them by placing duty above self-interest. Let us honour them by treating one another with greater kindness,” he said.
President Mahama closed the service with a final tribute to the eight departed Ghanaians, expressing hope that their memory would continue to inspire the nation for years to come.
“The names of these eight faithful servants will forever occupy a special place in the story of our nation. Not because of the way they died, but because of the spirit with which they lived and served God and country,” he said.
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