By midday, the nation stood still as devastating news broke; a military helicopter had crashed near Adansi in the Ashanti Region, claiming the lives of eight individuals, including some of Ghana’s most prominent government officials and military personnel.
Among the fallen were Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence; Alhaji Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology; Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, former Minister for Food and Agriculture and Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Dr Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the NDC; and others, including two brave Air Force officers and a former parliamentary candidate.
This was not merely a government tragedy. It was a national one. And it brings to bear a lesson we often ignore until calamity forces us to remember: life is painfully fragile.
For all the criticisms, suspicions, and cynicism that public officials often face, today shows that leadership is not just about sirens, motorcades, and protocol. It is also about risk, sacrifice, and responsibility. These were individuals who committed themselves, however imperfectly, to the complex and demanding work of nation-building. Whatever political views we may hold, today calls for nothing but solemn respect.
But perhaps what should shake us even more is how it all ended. The remains of these cabinet ministers, once protected by layers of protocol and title, were reportedly burned beyond recognition. DNA tests will be needed to identify them. Their charred body parts, according to rescuers, were gathered in cocoa sacks. Cocoa sacks. Carriers of Ghana’s pride and export wealth are now reduced to the final container for lives that once held national portfolios. If that image does not humble us, nothing will.
No one is immune to tragedy. Not even the powerful. The corridors of power may appear glamorous, but behind the scenes are gruelling hours, relentless scrutiny, and dangerous duties. As citizens, perhaps it is time we reconsider our posture. Less finger-pointing, more understanding. Less envy, more compassion.
We cannot continue to let politics, tribe, class, or creed divide us. What use are petty rivalries when death does not discriminate? The helicopter did not ask who was NDC or NPP, Christian or Muslim, Ashanti or Ewe. It took them all.
Let us not wait for death to remind us how to be human. Let us choose peace. Not just the absence of conflict, but the active pursuit of unity, tolerance, and kindness. Let us celebrate life, not in opulence, but in togetherness. Let us turn from bitterness and resentment and learn to forgive, to listen, and to help.
This earth, for all its pain, is still a beautiful place. And Ghana, with all its challenges, is still our home. The trees still stand. The rivers still flow. Children still play. Sunsets still dazzle. There is still joy to be found, laughter to be shared, and love to be given.
Tomorrow is not promised. So while we have today, let’s make it count. Not in arguments won, not in possessions acquired, but in lives touched and hearts healed.
May the souls of the departed rest in perfect peace. And may their passing remind us not only of life’s uncertainty but of the urgency to live it meaningfully.
Kwame Sowu, East Legon, Accra
NOTE: The author, Kwame Sowu, is a seasoned professional with a diverse background in business and leadership. He is a former Chairman of the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board.
