President Mahama Unveils GH"8 Million Trust Fund and Memorial Activities for Families of Helicopter Crash Victims

President John Dramani Mahama has presented a comprehensive state support package to the families of eight senior government officials who lost their lives in a helicopter crash in August 2025. During a ceremony held at the Jubilee House on July 30, 2026, the President emphasized that while no amount of financial compensation could replace the lives of dedicated public servants, the nation bears a sacred responsibility to care for their dependents. The victims, who included the Minister for Defence and the Minister for Environment, died while on an official mission in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region.

The support package includes the establishment of trust funds and premium healthcare coverage for the 27 children left behind by the deceased officials. The government will deposit GH"1 million into dedicated accounts for the children of each of the eight victims to ensure their education and long-term welfare are secured. Additionally, the families have been enrolled in a premier tier of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which provides an annual health insurance cover valued at GH"3 million. President Mahama also presented "Legacy Boxes" to the bereaved families, which included personal letters he wrote to each child, encouraging them to pursue excellence as a tribute to their parents' sacrifices.

Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, outlined a series of national events to mark the first anniversary of the tragedy. These commemorative activities include the Dr. Edward Omane Boamah Memorial Lecture at Burma Hall on August 4, followed by a National Inter-Faith Memorial Service and the unveiling of a memorial cenotaph at the UPSA Auditorium on August 6. The anniversary observations will conclude on August 7 with a nationwide blood donation drive, which the government urges all citizens and organizations to support in honor of the "Departed Eight."

This initiative reflects the administration's commitment to honoring the legacy of those who serve the state at the highest levels. President Mahama and Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang are expected to lead the various commemorative services, reinforcing a message of national unity and resilience. By securing the educational and health needs of the victims' children, the government aims to provide a sustainable support system that transcends immediate mourning and ensures the victims' contributions to Ghana's development are never forgotten.