The Minority Caucus in Parliament has urged Ghanaians to unite in grief and reflection following Wednesday’s devastating military helicopter crash in the Ashanti Region, which resulted in the deaths of eight individuals, including two serving Cabinet Ministers.
Describing the incident as one that “touches the very soul of our nation,” Minority Leader **Alexander Afenyo-Markin** led tributes on behalf of the opposition, calling for a collective moment of reckoning not only for the loss but also for the values and vision the deceased stood for.
In a solemn statement issued hours after the Chief of Staff, **Hon. Julius Debrah**, officially confirmed the incident, Afenyo-Markin called the crash **“a national tragedy”**, urging all sides of the political divide to channel their grief into renewed commitment to public service and national unity.
### Honouring Service and Sacrifice
The deceased, who included **Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah** and **Environment Minister Dr Alhaji Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed**, were described as patriots who gave their lives in service to Ghana. The list of victims also included senior security personnel and party officials:
* **Muniru Mohammed**, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator
* **Samuel Aboagye**, former NDC Parliamentary Candidate
* **Samuel Sarpong**, NDC National First Vice Chairman
* **Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala**, Pilot
* **Flying Officer Mane-Twum Ampadu**, Co-pilot
* **Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah**, Flight Technician
“These were not just public figures — they were fathers, sons, husbands, and above all, patriots,” Afenyo-Markin said.
### A Bipartisan Tribute
In a rare moment of bipartisan solidarity, Afenyo-Markin offered a **personal and heartfelt tribute** to the fallen ministers, acknowledging their professionalism and unwavering dedication beyond party lines.
> “Though we sat on different sides of the aisle, Dr Murtala Mohammed and I shared many honest conversations about the future of Ghana,” he recounted. “His environmental vision was as inclusive as it was urgent.”
He also hailed Dr Omane Boamah’s work at the Defence Ministry, saying, *“He fused intellectual rigour with deep patriotism — a reformer who understood the soul of Ghana’s Armed Forces.”*
### A Call to Action in Mourning
Beyond condolences, the Minority’s statement struck a tone of **responsibility and forward-thinking**, calling for improved safety measures for official state travel and a stronger investment in national resilience.
The caucus expressed solidarity with President John Dramani Mahama, stating:
> “Your loss is our loss. Your grief is our grief. In these painful hours, we stand with you and all Ghanaians in mourning.”
The statement concluded with a poignant message: that the best way to honour the fallen is to continue the work they began — securing Ghana’s peace, protecting its environment, and uniting its people in a shared destiny.
> “Let us remember them not only for how they died but for how they lived — in the service of Ghana.”
