Pope Leo XIV Mourns Victims of Ghana Helicopter Crash, Offers Prayers for the Nation

Pope Leo XIV has expressed profound sorrow over the loss of eight lives, including ministers, senior government officials, and military personnel, in a helicopter crash in Ghana on Wednesday, August 6.

His condolences were delivered in a telegram signed by Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and addressed to Bishop Matthew K. Gyamfi of the Sunyani Diocese, President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference. The Holy See Press Office released the message on Thursday evening, August 7.

“His Holiness Pope Leo XIV sends his condolences upon the deaths of the ministers, government officials, and all who perished in the military helicopter crash,” the statement read.

The Pope entrusted the souls of the deceased to God’s mercy, assuring their families and the entire nation of his prayers and spiritual closeness during this time of grief.

The crash occurred in a dense forest in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region, killing all on board. Among the victims were Ghana’s Minister of Defence Dr. Edward Omane Boamah; Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed; Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Muniru Mohammed; former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye; and NDC Vice Chairman Samuel Sarpong.

The crew members were Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah. They were traveling to Obuasi for an official mission aimed at combating illegal mining when the aircraft went off radar and crashed.

In a statement, the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference mourned the loss, describing the deceased as “men of proven commitment, servants of the state, politicians, technocrats, and gallant officers of the Ghana Armed Forces who gave their lives in service to the Republic.”

“We are shocked to lose such brilliant minds all at once,” the bishops said, urging all Ghanaians to pray for the victims.

President John Dramani Mahama has declared three days of national mourning as investigations into the cause of the crash continue.