Thousands of mourners gathered at the State House on Saturday, March 28, to pay their final respects to brothers Frank Amoaning Donkor and Elijah Ofori Donkor, who perished in a tragic microlight aircraft crash near Tema two weeks earlier.
The solemn funeral service drew an overwhelming crowd of family, friends, church members, aviation enthusiasts, and members of the public, all united in grief. The emotional ceremony also attracted prominent national figures, including the Speaker of Parliament, the Chief of Staff, and several state ministers, alongside members from both majority and minority parliamentary caucuses. Gospel musicians Elder Mireku and Jack Alolomie led worship throughout the service, providing spiritual comfort to the grieving crowd.
The brothers’ aircraft crashed near a school in Tema while travelling from Ho. In a heart-wrenching moment during the funeral, their father, Elder Frank Kwabena Donkor, recounted the final conversation he had with his sons—just five minutes before the fatal crash occurred.
Clad largely in black and red, mourners filled the venue from early morning as church leaders led prayers and hymns honouring the deceased. The ceremony was marked by scenes of deep sorrow, with many visibly overcome with emotion as they filed past to pay their last respects. Photographs from the event captured tearful embraces, moments of silent prayer, and solemn reflections from attendees.
The loss of the two young men has sent shockwaves through Ghana’s aviation community and beyond, highlighting the risks associated with microlight aircraft operations. Their funeral service became not only a personal farewell but also a public acknowledgment of the tragedy that claimed their lives.
