The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) William Agyapong, has presented ranks and insignia to the bereaved families of the personnel who died in the Adansi helicopter crash.
The ceremony took place at the Air Force Headquarters in Accra on Tuesday, August 19, 2025.
The event’s purpose was to honor the fallen heroes by officially conferring on them the ranks that were posthumously awarded by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama.
The corresponding insignia were also presented to the families.
In his address, the CDS conveyed his condolences to the families and thanked the sympathizers who had contributed in various ways during this difficult time.
He emphasised that the government has prepared a comprehensive package for all eight victims of the crash, which will be presented at an appropriate time, in addition to all other benefits due to them.
Lt Gen Agyapong also stressed that the tragedy should serve as a wake-up call to all uniformed personnel.
He proposed the establishment of a child care fund that would adequately cater to dependents, especially children, in the unfortunate event of a death in the line of duty.
He expressed his appreciation to the government, the Ministry of Defence, the Military Council, and other organizations for their immense support to the Ghana Armed Forces.
Tributes and Financial Support
The Chief Staff Officer at the Air Force Headquarters, Air Commodore Mathias Awuah, stated that promotions are the aspirations of all personnel, and as such, the honor bestowed upon the fallen comrades was commendable.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Eric Agyen-Frimpong, remarked that military promotions are traditionally celebrated at the mess.
However, given the circumstances, the CDS deemed it fitting to invite the families of the fallen to present the insignia on their behalf. He assured the families that they would receive the full benefits and entitlements associated with the new ranks.
Additionally, the families were presented with an amount of three hundred and fifteen thousand Cedis (GHC 315,000.00).
This amount was accrued through donations from supporting organizations, institutions, and individuals. He indicated that all other entitlements would be made available at a later date.
Reverend MacDouglas Ampadu, speaking on behalf of all three families, expressed gratitude to the CDS and the Ghana Armed Forces for their unwavering support and presence during their period of profound loss.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
