The Pope John Senior High School in Koforidua has held a requiem mass in honour of its former student and Ghana’s late Minister of Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah.

The solemn ceremony was held on Thursday, August 7, 2025, bringing together school authorities, students, and alumni to pay their respects.

According to an adomonline.com report on August 7, 2025, attendees sang hymns and offered prayers for the peaceful repose of Dr Boamah and the other victims of the recent helicopter crash.

Dr Boamah was among eight people who died on Wednesday, August 6, when a Z-9 military helicopter crashed in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region.

The aircraft was travelling from Accra to Obuasi when the incident occurred.

Other high-profile victims included the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed; and the Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Muniru Mohammed Limuna; Samuel Aboagye, a former Parliamentary Candidate; and Samuel Sarpong, a Vice Chairman of the NDC.

The crew members who perished were Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Mane-Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.

Dr Omane Boamah, an old student of Pope John SHS, had returned to the school in June 2025 as guest speaker at its 67th Anniversary Speech and Prize-Giving Day.

During the event, he pledged to sponsor a Visual Arts student to study architecture at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), after being presented with a hand-drawn portrait in recognition of his contributions to the school.

The requiem mass formed part of a nationwide mourning effort as tributes continue to pour in for the fallen statesmen and military officers.

MRA/AE

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