Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The President of Sierra Leone and Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Julius Maada Bio, has visited Ghana to mourn with President John Dramani Mahama and the people of Ghana following a tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of eight senior officials.
President Bio was scheduled to visit Ghana as part of his inaugural regional tour as ECOWAS Chairman. However, when the helicopter crash occurred on 6 August 2025, he changed the purpose of his trip to a condolence visit.
The accident occurred while the helicopter was on its way to Obuasi in the Ashanti Region as part of an anti-illegal mining mission. Among those who died were Ghana’s Minister of Defence, Hon. Edward Omane Boamah; Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Hon. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed; along with six other government and military personnel.
On August 8, President Bio visited Jubilee House, where he laid a wreath and signed the book of condolence to honor the victims. He met with President Mahama to express his condolences on behalf of the Government and people of Sierra Leone as well as the broader ECOWAS community.
During their meeting, President Bio encouraged Ghanaians to find comfort in their faith and prayed for mercy for the souls of those who lost their lives. He acknowledged the difficult time the country was going through and offered support and solidarity from Sierra Leone and ECOWAS.
President Mahama expressed his gratitude for President Bio’s visit, noting that he had been preparing to receive him for the regional tour when the tragedy happened. He thanked President Bio for choosing to continue his visit despite the circumstances, describing it as a strong sign of regional support.
He also informed President Bio about funeral arrangements and shared that the government was committed to conducting a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash. The aim is to draw important lessons that will help prevent such incidents in the future.
The helicopter crash has left the country in mourning, with national flags flying at half-mast. President Bio’s visit was seen as a sign of solidarity and unity among ECOWAS member states during this difficult time.
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