Parliament opened its Third Meeting of the First Session of the Ninth Parliament on a solemn note as Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, led members in paying tribute to colleagues and officials who lost their lives in the August 6, 2025, military helicopter crash.

The tragedy claimed the lives of Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, then Minister of Defence; Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, former MP for Tamale Central cum Minister of Environment, Science and Technology; and several other distinguished Ghanaians, including senior military officers.

“We must start by solemnly recognising the loss of our distinguished colleagues who tragically left us under the very painful circumstance of the helicopter crash of 6th August 2025,” Ayariga said.

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He extended Parliament’s condolences to the bereaved families and called on Ghanaians to support efforts to care for the children of the deceased.

“Let me, on behalf of Parliament, extend our condolences to the families of the bereaved and urge all of us to support the efforts to maintain their children,” he added.

The House observed a minute’s silence in memory of the victims.

The Majority Leader also noted that the loss of the Tamale Central MP led to a by-election, producing a new NDC member, with the Akwatia by-election similarly delivering another NDC victory.

He described the outcomes as “a reflection of the growing public confidence in the NDC government under President John Dramani Mahama.”