NPP respects helicopter crash victims; protest wasn't meant to dishonour them - Salam Mustapha

Salam Mustapha, the National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), dismissed claims on Thursday, August 6, that the party's "Democracy Under Attack" demonstration was disrespectful to the memory of the eight people who died in the August 6, 2025 military helicopter crash. He stated, "We have absolute respect for the memory of our gallant men who died. Absolute respect. One of them was a personal friend, the Honourable Murtala. Very personal." He explained the decision to hold the protest on the same day as the National Interfaith Memorial Service was based on the party's internal calendar and was not intended to overshadow the national commemoration.

Mr. Mustapha stated the NPP fixed the date for the demonstration after considering its constituency and upcoming regional elections and was unaware of the government's memorial programme when the decision was made. The protest, held in Accra, saw the NPP accuse the government of selective justice, political persecution, and the misuse of state institutions. Its timing drew criticism from some members of the public because it coincided with the national memorial service attended by government officials, religious leaders, members of the Ghana Armed Forces, and the families of the crash victims.