President Mahama urges Ghanaians to honour departed public servants through integrity and national service

President John Dramani Mahama has called on Ghanaians to honour the memory of the eight public servants who lost their lives in last year’s military helicopter crash by serving the nation with integrity, placing duty above self-interest and strengthening the values that underpin national development.

He said the most enduring tribute to the departed was not monuments or ceremonies but a collective commitment to responsible leadership, compassion and dedicated public service that would safeguard future generations.

“We must honour the departed by serving our nation with greater integrity. Let us honour them by placing duty above self-interest. Let us honour them by treating one another with greater kindness. Let us honour them by building a Ghana where every citizen feels that their service matters and every sacrifice is remembered,” President Mahama stated.

The President made the call at the National Interfaith Memorial Service held in Accra on Thursday to mark one year since the helicopter crash of August 6, 2025, which claimed the lives of eight distinguished public servants and officers of the Ghana Armed Forces while they were on national assignment.

President Mahama described the anniversary as a moment for national reflection rather than sorrow, saying remembrance remained a sacred obligation for every grateful nation.

“Today, a year later, we gather not to relive that pain but to give it meaning. We gather because remembrance is an obligation for every grateful nation,” he said.

According to him, nations that forgot those who served them also risked forgetting the values upon which they were built.

“Memory is not simply about looking backwards. It is an act of national character and value. It affirms that sacrifices matter, that service is honour and that lives dedicated to the nation will never disappear into the ashes of history,” he added.

President Mahama recalled that the tragedy had plunged the entire country into grief, leaving families, colleagues and the nation struggling to comprehend the sudden loss.

He noted that while the country mourned collectively, the deepest pain remained with the spouses, children and relatives who continued to live with the absence of their loved ones.

Addressing the bereaved families, the President assured them that the nation had not forgotten their sacrifice.

“Please rest assured that the nation still mourns with you. Your loved ones did not die alone. They belong to all of Ghana, and Ghana will continue to remember them,” he said.

President Mahama also urged Ghanaians to appreciate the sacrifices of public servants while they were alive rather than waiting until tragedy struck.

He observed that many public officers worked under difficult conditions, travelled long distances and spent extended periods away from their families in pursuit of national development.

“As President, I have often reflected on the enormous sacrifices made by the men and women who dedicate their lives to public service. Much of their work goes unnoticed… Today we must resolve to appreciate public service even as it is performed daily,” he said.

The President further called on leaders at all levels to regard public office as a sacred trust, stressing that leadership was measured not by authority but by responsibility for the welfare of those who served the nation.

“The greatest memorial we can build is not one made of stone or bronze. It is one that is built through responsible leadership, improved systems and a steadfast commitment to protecting those who dedicate their lives to Ghana,” he stated.

President Mahama said the anniversary should strengthen Ghana’s resolve to build stronger institutions, improve safety standards and invest in the welfare of public servants to ensure lessons from the tragedy were not forgotten.

He also commended Ghanaians for the solidarity shown to the bereaved families over the past year, saying the compassion demonstrated across religious, political and ethnic lines reflected the country’s shared humanity.

“Those moments remind us that beyond our politics, beyond our ethnic differences, beyond our religious beliefs, we remain one people, united by our common humanity,” he said.

Richard Aniagyei, ISD