Africa-Press – Ghana. The Ghana Palliative Care Association (GPCA) has announced the activation of nationwide grief, bereavement, and psychosocial support services in the wake of the fatal military helicopter crash which claimed the lives of senior government officials, party stalwarts, and military officers.
The crash, which occurred on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region, involved a Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter and has plunged the nation into deep mourning.
Among the deceased were Hon. Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence; Hon. Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation; Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator and former Minister for Food and Agriculture; Dr. Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and former Ashanti Regional Minister; and Mr. Samuel Aboagye, a former NDC parliamentary candidate for Obuasi East.
The accident also claimed the lives of Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manaen Twum-Ampadu, one of the Air Force’s most promising young pilots, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
Two of the victims, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed and Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna, have since been buried according to Islamic rites after prayers led by the National Chief Imam, with their mortal remains interred at the military cemetery.
Dr. Stephen Ayisi Addo, President of the The Ghana Palliative Care Association, in a statement issued in Accra, said the Association, speaking on behalf of all palliative care practitioners nationwide, stood ready to offer immediate and ongoing grief care to affected families and communities.
“Our doors are open, nationwide. Through our care points and portals across Ghana, we remain committed to providing grief, bereavement, and support services to all individuals and families affected by this tragedy,” he said.
The GPCA stressed that palliative care extends beyond end-of-life support, offering vital psychosocial and spiritual assistance to those experiencing loss.
It said the crash underscored the urgent need to ensure that professional grief and bereavement services were accessible to all, particularly in times of traumatic national events.
The Association has mobilised its network of members, both individuals and institutions, to bridge the gaps in quality of life caused by the loss.
Dr. Ayisi Addo said the GPCA would work to ensure no bereaved family faced their grief alone.
“We share in our nation’s deep sorrow and grieve the irreplaceable loss of our distinguished leaders and dedicated public servants,” he said.
He further stated that, “As the national body of professionals in grief and bereavement care, we stand shoulder to shoulder with Ghana in this time of collective mourning.”
The GPCA, the statement, said welcomed support from civil society, non-governmental organisations, and faith-based groups, calling for coordinated action to expand access to mental health and bereavement services nationwide.
It pledged full readiness to partner with all stakeholders and urged government bodies, traditional leaders, and international partners to recognise palliative and grief care as a vital part of Ghana’s national health resilience strategy.
Dr. Ayisi Addo emphasised that investment in palliative care would help the country build a more compassionate and prepared health system, capable of responding not only to terminal illnesses but also to the emotional and spiritual needs that arise from sudden tragedies.
“Let us honour the legacies of those we have lost by building a more caring and resilient Ghana, one where grief is met with support, not silence,” he urged.
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