The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) will take full charge of the funeral celebration being organised by the state for the eight victims of the Wednesday, August 6, 2025 helicopter crash.
This was announced by the government at a Thursday, August 14 press conference held by the planning committee of the funeral where details of the funeral were provided.
The ceremony, slated for Friday, August 15, 2025, according to Deputy Chief of Staff, Stanislav Xoese Dogbe, said the funeral will be held in three parts — beginning with Bible and Qur’an recitals, followed by the main service, and ending with the burial.
He said the pre-burial programme will start at 7:30 a.m. and end at 9:00 a.m. The Vice President is expected to arrive at 8:50 a.m., with President John Dramani Mahama arriving at 9:00 a.m. before the state service begins.
The three-hour ceremony, according to Mr. Dogbe, will feature the reading of biographies of all eight crash victims, tributes from widows, children, government officials, and institutional representatives.
Remains of six of the victims will then be transported to the military cemetery at Tse Addo, near the former Trade Fair centre where they will be interned. The burial rites of the six will be jointly overseen by the churches of the deceased, together with the Ghana Armed Forces.
The August 6 helicopter crash claimed eight lives, including Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah; Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed; Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Muniru Mohammed; former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye; NDC Vice Chairman Samuel Sarpong; Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala; Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu; and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
The group was travelling to Obuasi in the Ashanti Region to attend an event aimed at combating illegal mining, known as galamsey.
Mr. Dogbe urged the public to arrive early and comply with security protocols in place for the event.
GAF helicopter crash: State funeral to be held for victims on August 15 at Black Star Square
