By Belinda Nketia
A day after a helicopter crash claimed the lives of two government ministers and six others in Ghana, Numo Blafo Akotia Omaetu III, President of the GaDangme Council of Wulomɛi, has urged that those who will take over the roles of the deceased must honour their memory through upright public service.
Speaking on the GTV Breakfast Show on 7 August 2025, the Ga spiritual leader described the crash as a national tragedy that should prompt deep reflection and a renewed commitment to duty.
“Those stepping in their boots should not forget that these people sacrificed their lives for the good of this country,” he said. “They should not disgrace their names, but rather glorify them.”
The 6 August crash, which occurred while the officials were on national assignment, has sent shockwaves across the country. Numo Blafo noted that although death is inevitable, the legacy one leaves behind determines whether they are remembered.
“We the Ga people believe that whenever you pass on, you’re still alive, especially if you’re a good person,” he explained. “When we call out our ancestors, we call those who did great deeds for society. If you’re of bad character, nobody remembers you, and when you die, you die forever.”
He added that moments like this serve as a wake-up call.
“If it were to be you, what would you have loved to do before this happened?” he questioned.
Numo Blafo extended condolences to President John Dramani Mahama, the bereaved families, and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), urging them to “take heart,” as the tragic end could not have been predicted.
He concluded his submission with a message to future officeholders, urging them to “perform and do something that glorifies the names of those who have fallen in the line of national duty.”
