Ghana’s state funeral for victims of the tragic August 6, 2025, military helicopter crash took a deeply emotional turn when a young boy, whose life had been transformed by one of the deceased, was spotted among the mourners.
The nine-year-old, identified as Setor, attended the solemn ceremony at the Black Star Square alongside his guardian. His presence carried symbolic weight — he was there to honor the memory of the late Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, who had personally financed a life-changing medical procedure for the child.
Before the operation, Setor had no prosthetic limb and relied on an improvised walking aid — a simple plastic chair — to move around. His condition came to public attention through social media, where images of his determination drew widespread sympathy. It was this story that moved Dr. Omane Boamah to step in and cover the full cost of surgery to provide the boy with a prosthetic limb.
The operation was a success, but in a tragic twist, the Defence Minister passed away the very next day in the helicopter crash, never having the chance to meet the boy whose life he had changed. The emotional bond, however, was not diminished. At the funeral, Setor’s guardian brought along the same plastic chair he once depended on, as a silent tribute to the journey from struggle to mobility made possible by the late Minister’s generosity.
Strict funeral protocols meant the boy could not enter certain areas of the venue, but his attendance was still a poignant reminder of the human connections behind public service. According to his guardian, Setor had been visibly saddened throughout the event, yet was proud to stand — now literally — in memory of the man who gave him that ability.
The state funeral honored Dr. Omane Boamah alongside other high-ranking officials who perished in the crash in Adansi Akrofrom, Ashanti Region. Among the dead were Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology; Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Limuna, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Dr. Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC); Mr. Samuel Aboagye, Deputy Director-General of NADMO; Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala; Flying Officer Manden Twum-Ampadu; and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
The fatal incident has left a deep scar on Ghana’s political and security landscape, but moments like Setor’s quiet tribute underscored the personal legacies these leaders leave behind — legacies measured not just in policies or positions, but in the individual lives they touched.
