Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has visited President John Dramani Mahama to express condolences over the helicopter crash that claimed eight lives.

In a video sighted by GhanaWeb, Dr Bawumia, accompanied by senior members of his campaign team and the opposition New Patriotic Party, described the tragedy as “heart-wrenching.”

Earlier, in a social media post, he said he personally knew some of the deceased and lamented their “horrid” demise.

“Samira, I, the Bawumia family, and the NPP join the nation in mourning them. May the Lord grant the bereaved families and the nation strength in this time of tragedy,” he wrote.

The crash occurred on August 6, 2025, at Adansi Akrofuom in the Ashanti Region while the Ghana Armed Forces helicopter was en route to Obuasi for the launch of the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP).

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The victims included Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah; Environment Minister Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed; Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Dr Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna; NDC Deputy National Chairman Dr Samuel Sarpong; former NDC parliamentary candidate and NADMO Deputy DG Samuel Aboagye; and three Air Force crew members: Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Malin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.

President Mahama has declared three days of national mourning, with a state funeral scheduled for August 15, 2025, at Black Star Square.

Books of condolence will be available from August 10 to 14, 2025 at designated locations.

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Dr Bawumia also laid a wreath at the Jubilee House Ceremonial Gardens and visited some bereaved families.

The Ghana Armed Forces is investigating the cause of the crash after retrieving the flight data and cockpit voice recorders.

Watch video below:

Bawumia and NPP delegation visit the private residence of President Mahama to express condolences and support. 🕊🇬🇭 pic.twitter.com/3yhgdADDQZ

— Popo🇰🇼🇬🇭 (@Popony_J) August 9, 2025