Editorial
Fare thee well, condolences to families of helicopter crash victims
Ghanaians were struck with grief on August 6, 2025, as the news of the crash of the Ghana Air Force (GAF) helicopter Z-9 at Adansi-Akrofuom in the Ashanti Region spread like wildfire moments after the incident occurred.
The helicopter, which crashed into a forested mountainside resulted in the death of eight individuals, including two government ministers and other prominent figures who were en route to Obuasi for an event about fighting illegal mining.
Anyone who heard the news reacted with shock, grief, and sombre reflection on the incident.
The victims were Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Defence Minister, Alhaji Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale Central and Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and Dr Muniru Mohammed Limuna, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator and a former Minister for Food and Agriculture.
Others are Dr Samuel Sarpong, Second National Vice Chairman of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and a former Ashanti Regional Minister, Samuel Aboagye, Acting Deputy Director General in Charge of Relief and Protocol at the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and a former NDC Parliamentary Candidate for the Obuasi East Constituency.
The rest are Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Pilot, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, Co-Pilot and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah, Crew member.
Following the crash which was so devastating, the President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama declared three days of national mourning, and flags were ordered to be flown at half-mast.
The event themed ‘Evening of Reflections and Memorial’ allowed the nation to grieve and also served as a time of remembrance and reflection for the nation.
Yesterday, a state funeral was held at the Black Star Square for the victims, two of whom were earlier interred on Sunday at the Military Cemetery according to Islamic tradition.
As usual, there was an outpouring of condolences and support for the families of the victims as Ghanaians and also international bodies mourned the loss of the victims. It was an emotional moment of grief as tears rolled down the cheeks of guests who were mostly clad in black.
The news was devastating but we want to assure the families of the victims that we are solidly behind them sharing in their pain. Our only consolation is that God knows best and he is a great comforter.
The Spectator, together with its cherished readers wish the widows, children, families of the victims and the entire nation our deepest condolences. We ask the Almighty God to strengthen, protect and provide for the widows and children left behind.
May the souls of the departed rest in perfect peace.
Adieu!!
Editorial
Enact law to scrape by-elections
Dear Editor,
I believe the nation stands to gain more than lose if collectively we decide to cancel entirely any by-election when it happens just before the next general elections.
This tough but decisive decision will be to our benefit considering the funds to save.
We should make it a law to allow the candidate that came second in the party’s primaries to fill in when a vacuum is created.
This should not be a headache for Ghana the way and manner our politics is, knowing the stronghold of all the parties. In places where it swings every year, a way can be found to fix it.
The by-elections have proven to be too expensive financially.
It saddens me when the state through the Electoral Commission (EC) mobilise financial and human resources to organise another election which most times goes in favour of the group that occupied the seat.
This move will also ease tensions and tempers that characterizes every election in the area.
Victor A. Buxton, Tema
Editorial
Kudos to Glory Hill International School
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am thrilled by the style of Glory Hill International School situated at Oyarifa School junction, in terms of how their final year students are handled on completion of their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the excitement is what has informed my decision to write this letter.
To the best of my knowledge, this is the only school when you finished writing the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), the management of the school gives the students a break for one week, and then the students go back to school until the term ends.
One may ask ‘what the students will be doing since they would have been done with their final exam; well they are taught about their next level of education – Senior High School (SHS).
They take them through the compulsory subjects such as Mathematics and English are delved into preparations for their graduation ceremony which comes off on the last day of the term or so.
For me, this initiative by the school is very laudable and worth emulating.
It broadens the horizon of the students, prepares them for their next level of academic pursuits, and prevents unnecessary roaming about especially as parents who have left for work.
Again these JHS graduates of Glory Hills International School in Oyarifa, as a result of the schools initiative, are very less likely to spend all their time on mobile phones as is the norm with most BECE graduates because they will still be in school.
Additionally, by this act the school ensures that the school fees paid for the term is fully exhausted and not “cut-off” after the BECE.
By this letter, I am commending the founder of the school Mrs. Georgina Obeng as well as management and staff of the school for this laudable act.
We need more of such initiatives in our schools.
Nana Asabaa Ababio- (Mrs)
Proud Parent
