Thousands of mourners, on Saturday evening, converged on the forecourt of the State House in Accra to honour the memories of the eight persons who perished in a ghastly helicopter crash on Wednesday, August 6, 2025.Led by President John Dramani Maha­ma, the mourners included Vice President Prof.

Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Dr Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone and Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Govern­ment and former President John Agye­kum Kufuor.President John Mahama (right) being consoled by President Julius Maada BioPresident Mahama arriving at the Military cemetery groundsPresident Mahama speaking at the Military cemetery groundsAlso in attendance were the Speaker of Parliament, the Acting Chief Justice, ministers of state, members of Parlia­ment, the diplomatic community, the clergy, traditional authorities, friends and families of the deceased and hundreds of Ghanaians.Tribute after tribute, the memories of the eight were relived on the night to reflect on their lives and legacies as the country officially ended three-days of mourning declared by President Mahama on Thursday.Amidst dirges from the flute, tears rolled down the cheeks of faint-hearted mourners as tributes from friends, fami­lies and institutions they represented were read out with pictures of the deceased displayed at the funeral ground.Leading the tributes, President Maha­ma described the victims of the crash as "dedicated public servants, united by their commitment to Ghana's success."He said the untimely death of the eight, though painful beyond measure, should be the rallying point for national duty to work towards the realisation of the Ghana the victims envisioned, urging the nation to move from grieving to accepting the loss."Let us commit ourselves to working tirelessly, transcending our differences, and focusing our energies on the mon­umental task of national development.

They served Ghana with their last breath, and it is our sacred duty to continue that service to the Ghana they envisioned, a Ghana of opportunity, justice, and pros­perity for all," he said.Praying for strength for the bereaved families and the country at large, Pres­ident Mahama expressed his personal grief as "each of the eight persons in that helicopter was either a friend, a cherished colleague, or a valued citizen of this coun­try that I lead."For the Vice President, words could not atone the magnitude of the loss because "there are none".Cautioning against political point-scor­ing and blame game, Prof.

Opoku- Agyemang said the tragedy should offer the nation the opportunity to pay attention to details and avert future occur­rences."It is a time for wishing our colleagues, who have perished in the line of duty, peaceful rest.