The wife of the late Flying Officer Manaen Twum-Ampadu, Naval Lieutenant Ewuradwoa Kumi-Kyeremah, was deeply heartbroken and fought back bitter tears during a candlelight vigil held in Takoradi on August 8, 2025. The vigil honored Twum-Ampadu and his two fellow airmen, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah, who died alongside five senior government officials in the tragic helicopter crash on August 6, 2025.
The event took place at Takoradi Airport, where family members, friends, colleagues, and members of the public gathered to mourn and pay respects to the fallen soldiers. Ewuradwoa Kumi-Kyeremah, who serves as a psychologist at the 2 Garrison, was visibly devastated, showing the heavy personal loss behind the national tragedy.
The helicopter crash claimed eight lives in total, including Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Murtala Mohammed, and has triggered a nationwide period of mourning with state burials planned for the victims.
The vigil was a solemn occasion of tribute featuring candlelight, music, and moments of silence honoring the dedication and sacrifice of the airmen. Photographs and videos from the event show Kumi-Kyeremah grieving intensely, underscoring the profound human cost of the disaster.
