“We understand the pressure on the President. While we are mourning one, he is mourning eight” – Sister of Squadron Leader Peter Baafemi Anala.

The family of Squadron Leader Peter Baafemi Anala, one of the eight government and military officials who tragically lost their lives in the recent military helicopter crash, has expressed deep gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama for sending a delegation to commiserate with them during their time of sorrow.

According to her, they were grateful for the thoughtfulness shown, acknowledging the immense pressure the tragedy had placed on President Mahama. She noted that while the families were mourning their loved ones individually, the President was carrying the burden of mourning all eight as one.

“ The Lord that gave is the Lord that has taken. Glory be to God. We want to thank you so much for being so thoughtful. In fact we understand the pressure that this has brought bare on President Mahama. Even as we are mourning as individuals of the eight people, he is mourning the eight as one.

“And so we understand the stress that he is going through. But if he has been thoughtful enough to send you people to us to come and commiserate with us, we are grateful. We pray that the good Lord who has called them will grant them a befitting resting place in his bosom.”

Speaking to Joy news on behalf of the family , Peter’s sister offered words of faith and appreciation despite the overwhelming grief.

She went on to pray for the souls of all the departed, including her brother, noting that the family believed their loss was within God’s plan.

“We pray that the good Lord who has called them will grant them a befitting resting place in His bosom. Everything the Lord does is good, even in our pain. We thank God for giving us an illustrious son, an illustrious brother, and an illustrious husband such as Peter,” she said.

Peter Baafemi Anala, a respected squadron leader, was among seven other persons died in the helicopter crash on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, in Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region.

The helicopter was transporting Ghana’s Minister of Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah; Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed; as well as Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Samuel Aboagye, a former parliamentary candidate; and NDC Vice Chairman Samuel Sarpong.

The crew members were Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.