President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, who also serves as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, visited Ghana to express condolences after a helicopter crash that resulted in eight deaths. The incident occurred on August 6, 2025.
President Bio’s visit was originally intended as part of his inaugural regional tour as ECOWAS Chairman. However, following the tragedy, he changed the purpose of his trip to offer support to President John Dramani Mahama and the people of Ghana.
“These are incredibly difficult times for you personally, for the families who have lost loved ones, and for all the people of Ghana. On behalf of the Government and people of Sierra Leone, as well as myself, I offer my sincerest condolences. As a unified ECOWAS community, we stand with you in solidarity, sharing in your grief,” President Bio said during his visit.
He encouraged Ghanaians to find comfort in their faith and prayed for mercy for those who died in the accident.
President Mahama responded by expressing gratitude for President Bio’s decision not to cancel his trip: “This loss weighs heavily on me personally, as many of those who perished were close friends. Your presence transcends a visit from Sierra Leone; it represents the support of the entire region. Thank you for joining us in this time of mourning.”
Mahama also briefed Bio on upcoming funeral plans and assured him that the government would investigate the crash thoroughly to learn from it.
Earlier that day, President Bio visited Jubilee House where he laid a wreath and signed a condolence book.
Among those killed were Ghana’s Minister of Defence Edward Omane Boamah; Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed; and six others.