NUGS, past leaders honour 8 fallen heroes
The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), in collaboration with past student leaders, last Thursday held a solemn candlelight vigil at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), in honour of the eight men who lost their lives in the August 6, 2025, military helicopter crash.
The ceremony brought together current and former student leaders, journalists, political figures and members of the public, all dressed in black to symbolise mourning and solidarity.
Participants stood shoulder to shoulder holding flickering candles, while others clutched framed photographs of the deceased. Hymns and solemn music filled the air, punctuated by moments of silence and prayers offered for the souls of the departed.
The crash, which occurred in the Adansi Akrofrom District of the Ashanti Region, claimed the lives of three military officers, two ministers of state and other senior government officials. It has been described as one of the country’s most devastating tragedies in recent years.
Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Dr Samuel Sarpong, Alhaji Muniru Laminu, Samuel Adu Aboagye, Squadron Leader Peter Baafemi Anala, Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah and Flying Officer Manean Twum Ampadu.
Tributes
The President of NUGS, Daniel Korley Botchway, expressed deep sorrow at the passing of the former acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna, a former executive of the University Students Association of Ghana (USAG) and former Secretary-General of the All African Students Association (AASU).
He said Alhaji Limuna’s journey from student activism to high public service was a remarkable example of the transformative power of youth leadership. He urged students to uphold the late leader’s values of patriotism, integrity and unwavering commitment to national and continental development.
President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, recalled personal interactions with both Dr Murtala and Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, describing them as principled leaders who brought the ethos of student activism into national service.
Former Minister of Finance, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, shared an emotional recollection of Dr Omane Boamah’s determination to become NUGS President, including his decision to transfer from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to the University of Ghana to pursue that ambition.
Calling for a national reflection, Dr Amin Adam said the greatest honour the country could give to the departed was to end illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
“Our greatest tribute to them is to win the fight against galamsey,” he said, proposing that August 6 be marked annually as NUGS Remembrance Day to honour the fallen and inspire future generations of leaders.
Heroes
The former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freddie Blay, described the deceased as patriots who embodied the highest ideals of selflessness, faith and vision.
He called for the occasion to serve as a rallying point for national renewal and unity of purpose.
“These were leaders who lived to serve. The greatest honour we can give them is to continue their mission,” he said.
As the evening drew to a close, participants joined a candlelight procession, holding their candles aloft against the night sky.
The vigil ended with a solemn pledge by student leaders, journalists and dignitaries to preserve the legacy of the eight whose lives exemplified resilience, patriotism and a commitment to building a better Ghana.
