The Government of Ghana has officially announced arrangements for the state funeral of the eight heroes who lost their lives in the August 6, 2025, helicopter crash. The ceremony will be held at the Black Star Square and will begin at 8:00 a.m.
The announcenet revealed that the program will be opened with prayers and a welcome address to dignitaries. This will be followed by the reading of biographies of the departed, with contributions from colleagues, parents, siblings, and friends. Tributes will then be given by widows, children, and senior government officials. Institutional tributes from organisations the departed were associated with will be read before 9:00 a.m.
After the service, the bodies of the six who are yet to be buried will be conveyed to the military cemetery at Burma Camp for burial, with the Ghana Armed Forces and associated churches overseeing the ceremony.
Given the large expected attendance, extensive arrangements have been made to ensure a solemn and orderly event. Thousands of chairs are being provided, and canopies will be labelled to guide seating arrangements. The public is urged to arrive early and cooperate with protocol and security officials. The inner perimeter will be restricted to specific accredited individuals, and mourners are expected to remain under their assigned canopies.
Heavy security deployment will be in place, not only for the presence of the President and Vice President but also to ensure the safety of all attendees. Drivers will be required to drop off passengers at designated points and park in allocated areas.
Buses will be provided to transport the six bereaved families to the cemetery to reduce congestion. Additional mourners will be accommodated based on availability. At the cemetery, military police will direct parking and restrict access to certain areas.
For media coverage, only accredited camera operators, video cameramen, and photographers will be allowed inside the inner perimeter. Reporters without accreditation may join the general mourners or use the designated media stands. Audio feeds will be provided for radio stations, while television broadcasters can access live or clean feeds from the OB van or the DTH decoder. Accreditation will be strictly enforced, and camera operators are advised to check their technical setups before the service begins at 7:30 a.m.
The Ghana Armed Forces will be responsible for moving the bodies from the morgue to Black Star Square and then to the cemetery. The service will be predominantly military in nature, led by the Armed Forces Chaplaincy with support from civilian clergy. It was also stated in the announcement that special arrangements have been made to honour the six who will be buried together, ensuring they receive the highest state respect.
Attendees are urged to follow all directions both at the Square and the cemetery to maintain order and decorum.
Traffic and Parking Arrangements
From midday today, August 14, 2025, traffic police officers will be stationed around the vicinity to ensure free flow of vehicles. On the morning of the funeral, starting at 5:00 a.m., officers will manage routes from Labone, Osu, and other entry points to prevent congestion. Diversions will be made as needed to ease movement for both mourners and routine commuters.
According to the announcement, alternate routes will be provided for motorists not attending the funeral, including diversions through Castle Road, Independence Avenue, and Liberia Road. Multiple parking areas have been designated, including the large car park adjacent to Black Star Square, VIP/VVIP parking behind the arch, spaces around the stadium, Access Car Park, and the frontage of the State House. Additional space has been secured for overflow.
Recovery trucks will be on standby to remove any broken-down or obstructively parked vehicles. Traffic arrangements will also be coordinated with the military near the cemetery to ensure smooth operations.
Public Appeal
The State Funeral Planning Committee is appealing to the general public for their cooperation to maintain the solemnity of the occasion. Mourners are encouraged to attend with a spirit of respect and to avoid unnecessary movement during the service.
The government assures the public that the ceremony will be broadcast live on television and radio, with high-quality coverage for those unable to attend.
Donations and Support for the state funeral
The Chief of Staff has announced that donations of water, drinks, floral tissue, and other items from companies such as Guinness Ghana Ltd, Ghana Water Company Ltd, Vena, Kasa Preko Ghana Ltd, and others will be distributed equally among the eight bereaved families.
The government, the Armed Forces, and all involved agencies are committed to ensuring a dignified and well-organised farewell to the nation’s fallen heroes.
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