Deputy Education Minister, Dr Clement Apaak, has expressed deep sorrow over the helicopter crash on August 6, 2025, which claimed eight lives.

Dr Apaak, who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Builsa, was sad as he narrated his memories with some of the victims, including Dr Omane Boamah, Dr Murtala Mohammed, and Mr Samuel Sarpong.

“Omane, Bro, I called him, and he would respond, Bro. Only a week ago, he sent me documents of a teacher who reached out to him about the delay in getting a staff ID. I promised to take it up with GES. He responded, grateful, Bro. Oh my Bro.

“Murtala, my troublesome younger brother, I called him, and he would respond, 'My big brother'. He would then proceed to announce to everyone in the vicinity, ‘Do you know that Dr Apaak is the President of the Global Association of Dog Meat Eaters?’ Who will announce my most cherished title?

“Limuna, my playmate. He would usually call me ‘my slave’ [It’s a Gonja and Builsa thing]. He called me, as he usually did, a week ago to check up on me. He informed me that he would come to my office to discuss and introduce a representative of an international NGO interested in supporting education in Ghana. I told him I would give him a date. My master is gone.

“Dr Samuel Sarpong, I called him Senior, and he would respond, Doc. We attended this year’s June 4th celebrations together. We were seated close to each other. He, Dr Duffuor, and I used our presence at the event to discuss some crucial issues and decided to formalise the ideas that came up. Senior, what happens to our ideas?”

The deputy minister also called for a national tribute, a thorough investigation into the crash, and renewed efforts to fight illegal mining (galamsey) in their honour.

“We must never forget the dedicated service these gallant eight gave to our nation. We owe them a duty to get to the bottom of what caused this painful national tragedy. Their sacrifice must spur us on to win the fight against galamsey.”

The crash killed Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Environment, Science and Technology Minister Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Limuna, NDC Vice Chairman Dr Samuel Sarpong, NADMO Deputy Director-General Samuel Aboagye, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.

Three days of national mourning have been declared from Thursday, August 7, to Saturday, August 9. Flags will continue to fly at half-mast until further notice. A public laying of flowers and lighting of candles began Thursday afternoon, with an Evening of Reflections and Memorials set for Saturday at the Forecourt of the State House. A State Funeral is scheduled for Friday, August 15, at Black Star Square.