‘It could have been me’ – Former Defence Minister Nitiwul breaks down in tears
Former Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul has expressed deep sorrow over the recent helicopter crash that claimed eight lives, calling it an unprecedented loss for Ghana.
Speaking at the Evening of Reflections and Memorial at the Forecourt of the State House on Saturday, August 9, Mr. Nitiwul described the immense grief the nation is facing and called for a moment of prayer for the victims.
The tragedy occurred on August 6, claiming the lives of Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Muniru Mohammed, former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye, and NDC Vice Chairman Samuel Sarpong.
Also on board were three military crew members — Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah — who also perished. The group was travelling to Obuasi for the launch of the Responsible Co-operative Mining and Skills Development Programme (COMSDEP), aimed at addressing illegal mining.
“It’s a very sad situation for all of us,” Mr. Nitiwul said, extending condolences to the bereaved families, the Ghana Armed Forces, and the entire country.
He acknowledged how difficult it is to accept such a tragedy but urged everyone to hold on to faith. “The only one who can give and take is the Almighty, and we know that all of them are in the bosom of the Lord,” he said.
The former minister noted that while Ghana has experienced air accidents before, losing eight people in one incident, especially while serving the nation, is a “big loss to all of us.” He admitted feeling a personal connection to the tragedy, reflecting on his own years in office. “It directly affects me because I was a minister for eight years. It could have been me. I mean, it’s possible it could have been me.”
Calling for prayers, he told the gathering, “We cannot ask him why. We can only pray for their souls and that’s all they need now. So I’m asking every Ghanaian to stand for just a minute and say a prayer for them.” He said such prayers would “feed into their souls and ask God to forgive all their sins, their trespasses and take them into his bosom.”
Mr. Nitiwul also stressed the need for national unity, noting how the memorial brought together people from across the political spectrum. “It’s not about a political party. This you see NDC, NPP, and we all mixed together. It is about Ghana today.” He expressed hope that the shared grief would serve as a “clarion call to unite us.”
Reflecting on the lives lost, he pointed out that some were “very young within their prime” and at the “epitome of their political career.” He ended with a heartfelt thought for the families. “Can you imagine? And we’ve all had it. He was a former interior minister, former minister for communication and all that; you can see that sometimes you just wake up, and even your children have not seen you and you are going to return later and you don’t come back. It is very painful, extremely painful.”