Even though President Mahama has said that the state funeral organized in memory of the eight patriotic fallen heroes on Friday 15th August 2025 marks the end of the official mourning and closes the chapter on the national tragedy of Wednesday 6th August 2025, we wish to discuss a few related matters without prejudice to the Presidential directives.
We wish to make a few comments and recommendations on the government’s humanitarian packages to the victims and their families.
President Mahama personally announced on Friday 15th August 2025 that he had approved a recommendation by the Armed Forces Council to promote the three military personnel to their next higher ranks posthumously. The President further directed the Chief of Defence Staff to organize the appropriate military ceremonies to give effect to the promotions as follows:
- Squadron Leader Peter Baafemi Anala (GH/4281) is promoted to the rank of Wing Commander with effect from 6th August 2025.
- Flying Officer Manaem Twum Ampadu (GH/5426) is promoted to the rank of Flight Lieutenant with effect from 6th August 2025.
- Sergeant Addo Mensah Ernest is promoted to the rank of Flight Sergeant with effect from 6th August 2025.
According to the President a “6th August 2025 Crash Fund” has been created and is to be operated by Stanbic Bank. Stanbic Bank has generously opened the account with a seed deposit of five hundred thousand Ghana Cedis (GHS 500,000). The account is to cater for the children and families of the victims in the areas of livelihood, clothing, shelter and education, especially for the children. The government, corporate bodies and individuals would also be able to contribute the funds and money into the account. The guidelines for the management of the fund would soon be announced by the government.
The President further announced that a separate package for the five non-military personnel (civilians of two ministers, and the three others) is to be considered by Cabinet and would be announced later.
We wish to commend the President for the laudable actions. However, we wish to make a few recommendations in order to give real meaning, scope and effect to them especially those in respect of the military personnel.
With all due respect to the President and the Commander In Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, it is our humble submission that considering the circumstances and nature of this particular air disaster, which is separate and distinct from all previous ones, the promotions given to the victims posthumously should be extraordinary and unique.
The precedent had always been to promote the beneficiaries to a step only above their respective ranks held before the tragedy of death.
In recent times, two key Commissioned Army officers were promoted posthumously by the then President and Commander-In-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces. Then Captain MA Mahama (GH/3454), who was gruesomely murdered at Denkyira Obuasi by a mob while on official duty, was promoted posthumously to the rank of a Major. Similarly, then Brigadier General CE Edjeani-Afenu (GH/2140), who was the first female officer to be promoted a “General” in the annals of the Ghana Armed Forces, was promoted to the rank of a Major General posthumously.
Obviously, the death of Major MA Mahama was painful, sad and barbaric, yet it is not comparable to that of Wing Commander PB. Anala, Flight Lieutenant M Twum Ampadu and Flight Sergeant Addo Mensah Ernest. The three gallant military personnel together with the two Ministers, Deputy Chairman of the NDC, Deputy National Security Coordinator and Deputy Director General, National Disaster Management Organization, paid the ultimate sacrificial price with their lives in a manner never experienced before in Ghana. The Ghana Armed Forces have had a number of air crashes since the 1960s but the air disaster of 6th August 2025 is unique and extraordinary.
Consequently, we recommend unique and extraordinarily promotions beyond one step ahead of the ones immediately held before the unfortunate tragedy and the loss of lives.
A few illustrations and justifications for our recommendations may help to persuade the Armed Forces Council, Council of State, the government and the President to give the three military personnel higher promotions and to honor the civilians and the entire victims in very dignified, memorable and everlasting ways.
Firstly, from the various accounts of religious leaders, especially Reverend Dr Stephen Y Wengam the General Superintendent of Assemblies of God, and Prophet Jedidiah Henry Kore aka “Fire Oja”, politicians such as Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, Hon Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka (Alhaji) and Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson and others, the eight casualties of the 6th August 2025 military helicopter crash had sacrificed their lives for the President, Mr Johnson Aziedu Nketiah, Hon Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, the National Security Coordinator and the Director General National Disaster Management Organization and to some extent, the whole nation.
The highest sacrifice that may be offered to appease God, gods, goddesses and deities of every form is human sacrifice of blood and burnt offerings (ashes). In Genesis Chapter 22 of the Holy Bible, God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, born with his legitimate wife Rebecca. In Genesis 22 verse 2, God said: “Take now thy son, thy only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of”
In verse 3 of Genesis chapter 22, the Bible says:” Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.”
In verse 4 of Genesis Chapter 22, the Bible says:” On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance”
In verse 5, the Bible says:” He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
In verse 6, the Bible says: “Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together”.
In verse 7, the Bible says: “Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
In verse 8, the Bible says: “Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together”.
In verse 9, the Bible says: “When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.
In verse 10, the Bible says: “Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.”
Luckily for Abraham in verse 11 of Genesis Chapter 22, the Bible says: “But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
In verse 12, the Bible says: “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
In verse 13, the Bible says: “Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a RAM caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a BURNT OFFERING INSTEAD OF HIS SON.”
There are similarities in and significances of these bible quotations and the air disaster of 6th August 2025. In Genesis chapter 22 verses 1 to 13 there was to be a sacrifice of burnt offering of a human being, ISAAC, THE ONLY SON of ABRAHAM to God.
In the air crash of 6th August 2025, THE ONLY SON OF A MOTHER, DR EDWARD KOFI OMANE BOAMAH, WAS SACRIFICED BY BURNT OFFERING.
Again, Abraham “took the wood of the BURNT OFFERING, AND LAID IT UPON ISAAC HIS SON, AND HE TOOK THE FIRE IN HIS HAND, AND A KNIFE AND THEY WENT BOTH OF THEM TOGETHER”
Similarly, in the air crash of 6th August 2025, the helicopter with its combustible aviation fuel served as the knife and wood of the human burnt offering. With the violent crash of the helicopter, the blood of the eight victims spilled and their bodies charred to fulfill the conditions of a burnt offering as God Himself directed Abraham to do in Genesis chapter 22, verses 1 to 13.
With these biblical analogies, the statements from the religious leaders and politicians, it is very evident that the eight gallant heroes have SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES THROUGH BURNT OFFERING FOR MOTHER GHANA AND ALL THE VVIPS in whose place some of the victims travelled on the aircraft.
With these illustrations and justifications, we strongly appeal to the Chief of Air Staff, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Vice President and the Armed Forces Council and the President and the Commander-In-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, to reconsider the promotions given to the three military personnel posthumously. We sincerely think that they deserve yet higher promotions to commensurate with their sacrifices of BURNT OFFERING which make their case unique, extraordinary and exceptional in all circumstances.
Consequently, we propose the following promotions:
- Group Captain Peter Baafemi Anala
- Squadron Leader Manem Twum Ampadu
- Warrant Officer Class Two Addo Mensah Osei Ernest
Even though our recommendation is a departure from the normal tradition and precedent of only one higher rank posthumous promotion, we are of the strong conviction that extraordinary times and circumstances require and deserve unique and extraordinary measures and responses.
We may juxtapose these recommended posthumous promotions on the accelerated promotions given to some Security Heads and officials of State institutions.
For instance, the CDS has had two promotions in 2025. The CDS was promoted from Brigadier General to the rank of Major General on 24th March 2025 and again promoted from Major General to Lieutenant General on 1st May 2025.
Similarly, the National Security Coordinator was promoted as Deputy Commissioner of Police in January 2025 and again from Deputy Commissioner to Commissioner of Police in July 2025.
At Bank of Ghana, several officers who contributed to the success of the NDC in the 2024 elections have had double promotions since January 2025.
Similar stories are told of NDC members in the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies who have had accelerated promotions, some undeserved, since January 2025.
NDC Key Communicators have been given Chief Executive Officer Appointments without any previous experience in the Public Administrations system. A lot of NDC persons have only been engaged in politics and occupied political party positions since their secondary and tertiary education and yet are now Director Generals, Deputy Director Generals, Chief Executive Officers, Deputy Chief Executive Officers, Directors and Deputy Directors. They all played key roles in getting victory for the NDC in the 2024 Presidential Elections.
What about Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Dr Murtala Mohammed Ibrahim, Alhaji Mohamed Muniru Limuna, Dr Samuel Sarpong and Mr Samuel Aboagye? They all played very important roles in securing victory for the NDC in 2024. But who have paid the ultimate prices of BURNT OFFERING AS A SACRIFICE for the President, Vice President, Mr Asiedu Nketiah, Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, COP Abdul-Razak Osman and Major Dr Samuel Kuyon (Rtd)?
It is only the five civilians and the three military personnel who have become victims of circumstances and sacrifices beyond their control especially the three military personnel as they were not frontline NDC politicians, members or supporters.
For these and other moral reasons, we sincerely plead with the President and the afore-mentioned personalities and constitutionally-mandated bodies (Councils) to reconsider higher promotions and durable honours for the victims posthumously.
In the case of the five civilians, the National Orders of decorations would not be enough.
Edifices, infrastructure and public places of extreme importance may be named after them. Similarly, military assets may be named after the three military personnel. For instance, if Flight Sergeant Addo Mensah Ernest is promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer Class Two, any of the Messes in any of the three Air Force Bases, Senior Non-Commissioned or Warrant Officers’ Messes, could be named after him.
Some Blocks of Flats at any of the three Air Force Bases or Messes could equally be named after the two Commissioned Officers.
There have been very painful and tragic air crashes in the history of the Ghana Air Force since independence.
In recent times the following tragic air disasters involving air force assets and personnel could be recollected;
- In 2002 on 18th March, Wing Commander BN Acheampong (GH/1849) and Flight Lieutenant S. Lartey (GH/2611) perished tragically in an air crash.
Wing Commander Acheampong was the Officer Commanding 3 Squadron at the Air Force Base in Accra and was the Captain of the flight while Flt Lt Lartey was his co-pilot.
Even though some support packages were offered the families of the victims, no posthumous promotions were announced. Thus, their families received pensionable emoluments based on their ranks at the time of the crash. No support fund was created for their families.
- On 7th May 1997, Squadron Leader SO Dwamena (GH/2028), perished in an air crash near and around the Air Force Base in Accra and the Kotoka International Airport in broad day light. Sadly, there was no posthumous promotion for him. Expectedly, there were handsome behind the scenes packages for the family. Again there was no public support fund for his wife and children.
- On 26th September 1992, Squadron Leader JMK Okom Mensah (GH/1635) and Squadron Leader SS Sackey (GH/1847) also met their untimely death in an air crash. As was the precedent at the time, there was no posthumous promotion for the two military pilots. At the time of the air disaster, Squadron Leader Okom Mensah (GH/1635) was the Assistant Director of Air Operations at the Air Force Headquarters in Accra, while Squadron Leader Sackey was a Squadron Pilot at the Air Force Station, Takoradi. Again, there was no support fund for the two pilots.
- On 18th June 1991, Squadron Leader BT Sampson (GH/1827) also lost his life tragically in an air crash. There was no posthumous promotion for him nor any support fund created for his wife and children.
- On 7th August 1982, Squadron Leader SV Bannerman (GH/1226) had a very terrible air crash and lost his life. Similarly, he was not given a posthumous promotion. Neither was any support fund created for his wife and children.
- On 24th May 1979, Flight Lieutenant CT Yuori (GH/397) encountered a tragic air crash and lost his life in a very painful manner. Again, there was no posthumous promotion for him. Neither did his family receive any assistance from a “Support Fund”.
- Furthermore, on 20th October 1972, Flight Lieutenant FK Ofori-Ameyaw (GH/892) and Flight Lieutenant GO Pobee (GH/1104) suffered an air crash and perished. Sadly, they did not receive any posthumous promotions nor any assistance from a “support fund”.
- Another tragedy of an air crash happened to Flight Lieutenant LK Gbekie (GH/730) on 26th November 1970. Flt Lt Gbekie was not given any posthumous promotion. Neither did his family receive any financial assistance through a “support fund”.
- As if the odds were against the Ghana Air Force in 1970, there had been an earlier air crash on 24th May 1970 in which Flying Officer S Abdulai (GH/1034) perished. As was the practice then, no posthumous promotion was given to him and neither did his family receive any financial support from a specially created “support fund”.
- On 27th December 1966, Flying Officer MK Agbeshie (GH/851) and Flying Officer JA Boadu (GH/852), who were both Intake Mates of Regular Cadet Course 7 and also mates of the late Lieutenant General JH Smith (GH/830) and Lieutenant General SK Obeng (GH/819), also died in an air crash in a very tragic manner.
- Another tragedy of an air crash was sadly visited on the Ghana Air Force in early part of 1966. Thus, on 18th February 1966, just a few days (6 days) before the 24th February 1966 coup against President Kwame Nkrumah, two Flying Officers of the Ghana Air Force had an air crash and lost their lives in a very painful manner.
Flying Officers MK Kootin (GH/850) and FEK Kemevor (GH/858) were the victims of the air crash of 18th February 1966.
Certainly, 1966 was a very bad year for the Ghana Air Force. The Ghana Air Force lost four (4) of its best pilots at the time within a space of ten months. Worse still, three of the pilots were from the same Intake, Regular Career Course 7 as follows:
- Flying Officer MK Kootin (GH/850).
- Flying Officer MK Agbeshie (GH/851).
- Flying Officer JA Boadu (GH/852).
The Ghana Air Force suffered its biggest blow when four of its best pilots (three from the same Intake) suffered tragic air crashes and lost their lives.
From the narratives, it is clear that President Mahama has taken some good initiatives to provide some relief packages to the victims of the 6th August 2025 air crash and their families. The posthumous promotions given to Wing Commander PB Anala, Flight Lieutenant M Twum Ampadu and Flight Sergeant Addo Mensah Ernest are highly commendable. The creation of the 6th August Air Crash Support Fund is also in the right direction.
We are still appealing to the President, the Council of State, the Vice President and the Armed Forces Council to give the three military officers two-step higher ranks as follows:
- Group Captain. PB Anala.
- Squadron Leader M Twum Ampadu.
- WO2 Addo Mensah Ernest.
We expect to have the support of Air Marshal Michael Samson-Oje, a member of the Council of State by virtue of his former appointment as CDS, a former Chief of Air Staff, a pilot and a very close friend of His Excellency President John Mahama.
Again, a mate of Air Marshal Samson-Oje was Squadron Leader BT Sampson (GH/1827) who lost his life in the tragic air crash of 18th June 1991. The two Sampsons (albeit Samson-Oje) were Intake Mates of RCC 19 as follows:
- Air Marshal Michael Samson Oje (GH/1779)-RCC 19
- Squadron Leader BT Sampson (GH/1827) – RCC 19
We hope that for the sake of all the eighteen (18) pilots that the Ghana Air Force has lost tragically in air crashes since 1966, Air Marshal Michael Samson-Oje, Air Vice Marshal Eric Agyen-Frempong (GH/2603), the CDS, Lieutenant General William Agyapong (GH/2431), the Vice President, the Armed Forces Council, the Council of State and President John Mahama, the Commander-In-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces would consider favorably these humble recommendations of ours.
May the souls of all the eighteen (18) Ghana Air Force pilots and all other comrades of the various tragic air crashes, especially those of the August 2025, rest in perfect peace!!!
