Ghana Bids Farewell: Six Victims of August 6 Helicopter Crash Receive State Honours at Black Star Square
Ghana has begun the solemn farewell to six of the eight gallant officers who perished in the tragic August 6 military helicopter crash. Their remains arrived at the Black Star Square in Accra this morning, where they will be laid to rest with full military honours.
Draped in the national colours, the flag-covered coffins were received by senior government officials, members of the Armed Forces High Command, grieving families, and hundreds of mourners who gathered to pay their final respects.
The ceremony marks the beginning of the final journey for the officers, who lost their lives when a Ghana Air Force helicopter crashed during an operational mission in the Eastern Corridor. The incident, described as one of the country’s most devastating military aviation tragedies in recent years, claimed eight lives in total.
A Nation in Mourning
As the solemn procession began, the atmosphere was heavy with grief and reverence. The Ghana Armed Forces’ ceremonial unit performed a guard of honour, accompanied by the slow beat of military drums and the mournful sound of the bugle.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul, and other dignitaries are expected to deliver tributes acknowledging the officers’ service and sacrifice.
“These were men who answered the call of duty without hesitation,” a senior military officer told My News Ghana. “Their loss is not only to the Armed Forces but to the entire nation.”
Full Military Burial Rites
Following the state ceremony, the remains will be escorted to their respective hometowns for interment, in line with military tradition. The two other officers who perished in the crash will be honoured in separate family-arranged burials.
The Ghana Armed Forces have pledged to conduct a full investigation into the crash, with initial findings expected to be made public in the coming weeks. Aviation safety experts have already been deployed to examine wreckage recovered from the crash site.
National Reflection
Beyond the military community, many Ghanaians have taken to social media to express condolences and solidarity with the bereaved families, using hashtags such as #FallenHeroes and #NeverForgotten.
Today’s ceremony serves not only as a tribute to the lives lost but also as a stark reminder of the risks borne by the men and women who serve in the nation’s defence.
Source – My News Ghana
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