UN Day of Peace Event Honors Ghana Air Force Crash Victims
- khwang562
- Sep 29
- 2 min read
Accra, Ghana – In observance of the UN International Day of Peace, UPF-Ghana held an interfaith event under the theme “Resilience Through Solidarity: Advancing Peace in Challenging Times” on September 29, 2025.
The commemorative event, held at the Church of the Peace Makers International in Accra, gathered 30 participants, including religious, academic, and civic leaders. The program received nationwide coverage on Ghana Television (GTV) and served as a solemn moment of remembrance and unity.
The observance honored eight distinguished Ghanaians who tragically lost their lives in the Ghana Air Force helicopter crash on August 6, 2025. In a moving prayer tribute, Rev. Dadson Aikins, national leader of the Family Federation, led a candle-lighting ceremony symbolizing unity, hope, and national healing. Each of the fallen heroes was named and remembered with a personal prayer. The tribute concluded with an Islamic prayer led by Sheikh Ismail Yaseen, embodying the spirit of interfaith harmony that UPF actively promotes.
The event began with an invocation by Bishop John Asante, chair of IAPD-Ghana, followed by a welcoming address from Hon. Frank Fuseini Adongo, chair of UPF-Ghana. He linked the day’s reflections to UPF’s broader peace mission, highlighting the creation of the Digital Peace Protocol Consortium and announcing upcoming initiatives, including the Peace Leadership Education Series and Ambassador for Peace Awards scheduled for October 31, 2025, at KNUST.
Delivering the keynote address, Chief Zakaria Tahir Kuta III, Zorsimdi-Naa of Nanun and executive director of Across Faiths Foundation, spoke passionately about the power of solidarity in times of global uncertainty. He also denounced the persecution of peacebuilders worldwide – including UPF co-founder Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, who is currently facing persecution in South Korea – calling for renewed moral integrity in international justice.
A range of speakers brought multidimensional insights on peace and resilience:
Dr. Helen Osei, secretary-general of UPF-Ghana, highlighted the peacebuilding legacies of the UPF Co-Founders and condemned the unjust detention of Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon. Dr. Abubakari Mohammed Marzuq, representing the National Chief Imam’s Office, emphasized the importance of inclusive global governance to end conflicts such as the war in Gaza.
Mr. Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed, international security consultant, called for a UN Standing Peace Force to curb escalating violence worldwide. Madam Elizabeth Foli underscored peace education as the cornerstone for long-term stability.
Pastor Kingsley Kumah illustrated the transformative power of forgiveness and resilience using Rwanda’s post-genocide recovery as a model. Ms. Emmanuella Maame Yaa Ackah Benneh, law graduate, reaffirmed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a foundation for peace. Ambassador Carlos Boakye, youth leader, called for Africa’s youth to act urgently in shaping the continent’s destiny.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks from Ambassador Samuel Ojo, deputy president of the Ambassadors for Peace Association, and a musical performance by producer Mr. Jim Pee. The interfaith closing prayer once again underscored the unity that defines UPF’s peacebuilding mission.
The 2025 observance successfully combined remembrance with action – honoring the nation’s heroes, promoting interreligious solidarity, and reinforcing UPF-Ghana’s leadership in peace innovation and digital transformation.
