The Builsa Traditional Council has appealed to the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to rename the 12th Mechanised Military Barracks at Sandema after Squadron Leader Peter Abaafemi Anala, who died in the August 6, 2025, military helicopter crash.
In a letter to the Chief of Defence Staff, the Council proposed that the facility be named “Squadron Leader Peter Abaafemi Anala Military Barracks” as a permanent honour to their native son.
The appeal, signed by the Paramount Chief of the Builsa Traditional Area, Nab Azagsuk Azantilow II, praised Anala for his bravery, professionalism, and patriotism.
The Senior Air Force Pilot, attached to the No. 8 Helicopter Wing, was among eight people who perished in the crash at Adansi Brofoyedu in the Ashanti Region. The accident also claimed the lives of Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, and five other officials.
The Council’s statement noted: “It is a common and respected tradition worldwide to name military facilities after officers who have fallen in the line of duty. This gesture aligns with best practices in honouring military heroes.”
It added that the honour would not only keep Anala’s memory alive but also motivate current and future members of the Armed Forces while deepening ties between the military and the Builsa community.
Anala’s final operation was a mission to Obuasi to support the government’s Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), an initiative aimed at reforming small-scale mining to make it safer and sustainable.
His passing, alongside colleagues, has underlined the dangers faced by officers working to defend Ghana’s resources and sovereignty.
