The widow of late Flying Officer Twum Ampadu has described the past year as an extremely difficult journey for the families of the eight victims of the military helicopter crash, saying the loss of their loved ones continues to weigh heavily on them.

Speaking on behalf of the widows at a National Inter-Faith Memorial Service held to commemorate the first anniversary of the tragedy, Naval Lieutenant Ewuradwoa Kumi-Kyeremeh reflected on the emotional struggles, resilience and faith that have sustained the families since the incident.

She said the period following the death of their husbands has been filled with overwhelming grief and moments of disbelief.

“On behalf of the other seven women who lost their husbands, I can say that the past year has been long, painful and extremely challenging,” she said.

Lieutenant Kumi-Kyeremeh noted that accepting the reality of their loss has remained one of the most difficult parts of the grieving process, as memories of their spouses continue to clash with the reality that they are no longer present.

She recounted an experience at a recent military event where an aviation distress call unexpectedly triggered painful memories of the final moments of the crash.

She explained that hearing someone shout “Mayday, Mayday” immediately caused panic as she wondered whether that was the last sound her husband and the other victims heard before the tragedy.

The widow also spoke about the small daily reminders of her husband’s absence, including moments when she instinctively reaches for her phone to share something with him, only to remember that he can no longer respond.

Despite the pain, Lieutenant Kumi-Kyeremeh said her faith in God has been a source of strength and comfort throughout the difficult period.

She expressed appreciation to the Presidency, the leadership of the Ghana Armed Forces, serving and retired personnel, and defence civilian staff for the support and compassion extended to the bereaved families.

She also acknowledged the role played by relatives, friends and religious leaders, saying their encouragement and prayers had been instrumental in helping her cope with the loss.

According to her, grief is a journey that requires collective support, noting that many people had surrounded her with care during her darkest moments.

Beyond navigating her own pain, Lieutenant Kumi-Kyeremeh revealed that she has also reached out to other widows of the tragedy, helping them find strength as they adjust to life without their partners.

She encouraged others experiencing loss to hold on to hope, stressing that while grief may not disappear quickly, the weight of sorrow can gradually become easier to bear.

Quoting Japanese author Haruki Murakami, she urged people dealing with loss to honour the memories of loved ones by continuing to live meaningful lives.

She ended with a prayer that Ghana would never experience a tragedy of such magnitude again.