Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called on Ghanaians to approach the national tragedy of the August 6 military helicopter crash with unity, empathy, and a renewed commitment to the nation’s progress.
Speaking at the Evening of Reflections and Memorials held on Saturday at the Forecourt of the State House, the Vice President described the eight individuals who perished in the crash as patriots who “served their nation and humanity well.”
“They have played their roles and admirably so. They have served their nation and humanity well. How about us?” she asked, challenging the audience to reflect on their own service to Ghana.
She acknowledged the widespread grief felt not only by family, friends, and colleagues, but also by strangers who share in the sorrow.
She cautioned against politicising the incident or assigning blame, stressing instead the importance of “paying attention to detail and to facts” to prevent such tragedies in future.
“This is definitely not a time for distasteful gloating over the misfortune, for postulation. This is not a time for apportioning blame. It is a time for sober reflection, of paying attention to detail and to facts,” she said.
The memorial event formed part of the government’s three-day national mourning period, which began on Thursday, August 7. The solemn occasion brought together government officials, military personnel, political party executives, families of the deceased, and members of the public.