Accra: The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) is mourning the loss of Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, alongside seven other government officials and military personnel, following a helicopter crash on August 6, 2025.
According to Ghana News Agency, Naval Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin, Acting Director-General of the Public Relations Department of the GAF, expressed the profound impact of the tragedy on military personnel. She described the day as one of the most tragic in the history of the GAF, noting that the personnel were visibly shaken.
Naval Captain Arhin highlighted the close-knit nature of the military, emphasizing the difficulty of the aftermath. She stressed that it is a challenging time for the soldiers as the Armed Forces is akin to a family. The incident was described as a national disaster, with recovery expected to take a significant amount of time.
Criticism was directed towards certain media outlets for their insensitive reporting of the crash. Naval Captain Arhin expressed disappointment over the manner in which some media houses covered the incident. She condemned the circulation of graphic images and speculative reporting, which she found disrespectful to the deceased and their families.
Naval Captain Arhin urged the public to exercise restraint in discussions and media sharing related to the incident. She appealed for understanding and respect towards the families of the victims and called on all Ghanaians to treat the incident as a national loss, honoring the memory of the deceased.
The Z-9 military helicopter was en route to Obuasi for an anti-illegal mining event when it crashed near Adansi Sikaman in the Ashanti Region, resulting in the loss of all on board. The victims included high-profile government officials and military personnel, marking a significant loss for the nation.
