The  Paramount Chief of the Gbese Tradi­tional Area, Dr Nii Ayi-Bonte II, has expressed his profound condolences to the President, John Dramani Mahama, the Vice President, Professor Naa­na Jane Opoku-Agyemang, the government, the families of the eight deceased national officers and the entire citizenry, describing the helicopter crash which claimed the lives of the eight as a blow to national development.According to Nii Ayi Bonte, who is also the Adonteng of the Ga State and second in command to the Ga Mantse, the death of the eight who were on national assignment, was not only tragic and painful, but also shattering to the entire country.A statement issued by the Gbese Mantse Palace in Accra yes­terday and copied to The Ghanaian Times said "I and my elders are deeply troubled and saddened by the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of eight ded­icated Ghanaians who were on their way to perform a national assignment and pray for the good lord to strengthen us especially, the families of the eight who lost their lives."The statement signed by Nii Gbese himself also called on Gha­naians to bury their differences and come together to ensure that the eight were not just buried, but honoured by the state."The sudden demise of our eight compatriots must serve as a memorial that will unite and bring us together to fight the good caus­es of our nation.

We shall weep and mourn them, but that should not be the end.

Their tragic death must be remembered and we must ensure that their death is not in vain," Nii Ayi-Bonte said.In a related development, the Deputy Minister of Edu­cation, Dr Clement Apaak, has expressed deep sorrow over the loss of his two former colleagues and the six others who died in the helicopter crash last Wednesday.Dr Clement Apaak, Deputy Minister of Education,Dr Apaak, who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Builsa, recalled his memories with some of the victims, including Dr Omane Boamah, Dr Muntala Mo­hammed, and Mr Samuel Sarpong."Omane, bro, I called him, and he will respond, bro.

Only a week ago, he sent me documents of a teacher who reached out to him on the delay in getting a staff ID.