Ghana Armed Forces Presents Ranks and Insignia to Widows of Officers Killed in Helicopter Crash
- The Ghana Armed Forces has presented the widows of the Air Force Officers killed in the helicopter crash near Obuasi with their late spouses' new ranks and insignia
- Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah died on August 6, 2025, while aboard a Z-9 helicopter
- They were posthumously promoted by the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, President John Mahama, in honour of their service to the nation
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The wives of the three Air Force officers killed in the helicopter crash near Obuasi have been presented with the ranks and insignia representing their late spouses' new ranks in the military.
Source: Facebook
Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah were killed when a Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) helicopter they were flying from Accra to Obuasi crashed on Wednesday, August 6, 2025.
The flight disappeared off radar shortly after takeoff from Accra and was later discovered to have crashed into the Sikaman Forest in the Adansi Afuokrom District of the Ashanti Region.
Five high-ranking government officials who were flying on board were also killed in the crash. They included the Minister of Defence, Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Deputy National Security coordinator Alhaji Muniru Muhammed, NDC Vice Chairman Samuel Sarpong, and Deputy Director of NADMO, Samuel Aboagye.
Following their deaths, the three officers were posthumously promoted by the President.
Squadron Leader Peter Anala was promoted to Wing Commander, Flying Officer Twum Ampadu was promoted to Flight Lieutenant, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah was promoted to Flight Sergeant.
The Facebook video of the President announcing their promotions is below.
Armed Forces presents posthumous ranks to widows
On Tuesday, August 19, 2025, the three widows of the slain officers were presented with the ranks and insignia posthumously earned by their husbands.
A photo showed the three widows together and displaying the new honours earned by their late husbands.
The presentation came days after a state funeral was held for the three officers and their five passengers aboard the doomed flight on Friday, August 15, 2025.
The Instagram post is below.
GAF presenting insignia to widows stirs reactions
YEN.com.gh compiled some comments reacting to the military presenting the widows of the late officers with their new ranks and insignia.
sir_adwene89 said:
"This year is full of calamities but it is my prayer that you and your house will be protected by the power of God."
oscar_doffer wrote:
"The intro and the tribute of the middle widow really made me stop watching whole funeral ceremony.. I really cried after hers 😭😭😭😭."
akuaku2807 commented:
"The 8 heroes should be put on the two cedi paper note."
Support fund for crash victims raises GH¢2 million
Previously, YEN.com.gh reported that the Children's Support Fund set up to help the offspring of the helicopter crash victims raised over GH¢2.3 million less than a week after its launch.
Citi News reported that a public notice issued by the presidency on August 19, 2025, said Stanbic Bank Ghana made an initial seed donation of GH¢500,000.
According to a statement, signed by Dr Valerie Sawyerr, Senior Presidential Advisor on Governmental Affairs and Coordinator of the Fund, over 10 companies had donated to the fund.
Source: YEN.com.gh
