Africa-Press – Ghana. As the nation mourns the demise of the eight victims of the military helicopter tragedy, Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has reiterated that the period was not a time for apportioning blame.
She said it was a time for sober reflection, paying attention to detail and to facts; adding that it was a time for ensuring that mishaps were avoided going forward.
The Vice President made the remarks in her reflection at an Evening of Reflections and Memorial for the Departed Eight victims of the August 6, 2025, helicopter crash.
The solemn event, which was held at the Forecourt of the State House, was attended by President John Dramani Mahama, the First Lady, Mrs Lordina Mahama, and the visiting Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio, Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
Other dignitaries at the event include Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the Acting Chief Justice; former President John Agyekum Kufuor and former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
Vice President OpokuAgyemang in her reflection said: “This is not a time for perfect words, nor a time for the right thoughts, because there are none. Many of us here have experienced our departed colleagues in different places and times, in many ways and forms, even contexts, however momentarily, however lengthy.”
“Those experiences now crystallize into memories, those that we now hold and those that we can latch on to. But the conclusion always cuts both ways. Should we ask our colleagues, who usually would have been with us at public events such as this, I believe they would have their stories too, personal, formal, intimate or otherwise, or their encounters with us, those who mourn them today.”
She said: “Just that we cannot hear their voices, we cannot share their narrative now, but we recognize the quality of the material they brought to the national table, which is the agenda for development.”
She said the eight national heroes had played their roles, and admirably so; stating that they had served their nation and humanity well.
“How about us? What we feel, and palpably so, is the bewilderment,the confusion, the anger, the sadness, the denial, the grief, maybe acceptance at some point.
“What we know now are emotions that are expressing themselves from many quarters, including grieving parents, family members, siblings, wives, children, colleagues, neighbours, friends, and many others.
“And many more others who never knew them, but who hurt anyway. We have a nation in mourning. What we anticipate is a demand for answers. Abiding questions may include, why is this happening? Why did this happen? Why now? Why then? What should we do? What should we know? What are the lessons? How should we learn the lessons? How should we apply them? This is definitely not a time for distasteful gloating over the misfortune, for postulation.”
The Vice President said it was a time for considering if the unhelpful barriers they consciously continued to build and maintain, which persistently divide them as a people, was worth the effort.
“It is a time for wishing our colleagues who have perished in the line of duty, peaceful rest. It is a time for praying for comfort for their families and for everyone,” she said.
She said it was a time too, for the rest of them, all of Ghanaians, to renew their pledge to work in ways that truly advance the country, as they (the eight victims of the helicopter crash) had tried to do.
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