The Government of Ghana has announced a week-long programme of national remembrance to honour the eight people who died in the devastating military helicopter crash of August 6, 2025.
The commemorative events, beginning Thursday, July 30, 2026, will mark the first anniversary of the tragedy that plunged the country into mourning. The victims, now collectively remembered as the “Departed 8,” included senior government officials and Ghana Armed Forces personnel who died while performing national duties.
The remembrance programme opened with the presentation of state support and compensation packages to the bereaved families. President John Dramani Mahama said the assistance could never replace the lives lost but demonstrated Ghana’s continued commitment to the victims’ spouses and children. The packages include compensation, healthcare coverage and educational trust funds for the surviving children.
A memorial lecture honouring the late Defence Minister, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, will be held at Burma Hall in Burma Camp on Tuesday, August 4, at 2:00 p.m. The Ministry of Defence and the Pope John Senior High School Old Boys Association are organising the public event.
The main national commemoration will take place on Thursday, August 6, with an interfaith memorial service at the UPSA Auditorium in Madina, Accra. President Mahama, Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, government officials, security personnel and relatives of the victims are expected to attend.
Later that day, the Ministry of Defence will unveil a memorial cenotaph dedicated to the eight departed souls. Attendance at the unveiling ceremony will be strictly by invitation.
The commemoration will end on August 7 with a nationwide blood donation campaign named “Service to the Soul.” The exercise will take place at district, regional and teaching hospitals, including the 37 Military Hospital and other designated centres across Ghana.
The government has urged Ghanaians to participate in the exercise, describing blood donation as a meaningful and life-saving tribute to the fallen heroes.
One year after the disaster, the pain remains fresh—but Ghana is preparing to unite again in prayer, remembrance and gratitude for eight lives lost in service to the nation.
