Two individuals who threatened the lives of President John Mahama and his wife, the First Lady, Lordina Mahama, have been arrested.

The threats were made in a viral TikTok video that began circulating shortly after the Adansi Akrofuom helicopter crash on August 6, 2025.The video surfaced between August 6 and August 11, 2025.

In one of the videos, a woman named Akosua Jollof (Yayra Abiwu) appeared in a live video celebrating the crash and issuing violent threats. In the video, she accused the president of having a hand in the crash and threatened to kill him before the year ends.

She continued that, just as the victims of the crash were carried in jute cocoa sacks, Adjoa threatened to carry President Mahama in fertiliser bags, tie them and dump them.

“We will kill and kill you again. I just want you to know that we also have the men to face them squarely. The stupid things and decisions Mahama is taking — ours are also affecting them. With this plane crash, we will make sure that we kill Mahama. I say this as Akosua Jollof: Mahama, we will kill you and kill you again.

But with you, we will pack you into a cocoa sack, tie it, and trash it. You see how they (the victims of the crash) were carried in a cocoa sack? We will kill Mahama and put him in a fertiliser sack by the end of this year. We will put him through pain. We will do to him the most painful things. The soldiers he has touched…” she fumed in Twi.

Both of the suspects who are currently in Police custody are TikTokers. Another suspect, Prince Ofori, who is well known on TikTok as 'Funny Comedy', on the other hand, hosted a TikTok session in which violent threats were made against President John Mahama and First Lady Lordina Mahama.

Following the threats, the Ghana Police Service announced through an official statement posted on Facebook on Tuesday, August 12, that the duo had been arrested and were in their custody and are assiting with the ongoing investigation.

“So far, two people, Prince Ofori and Yayra Abiwu, are in Police custody assisting the ongoing investigation, while efforts are underway to get other persons believed to be connected to the video to assist the investigation”

“The Ghana Police Service has commenced investigations into a viral TikTok video in which an individual is heard threatening the lives of the President of the Republic, H.E. John Dramani Mahama and the First Lady,” the police noted in the statement.

The Ghana Police Service confirmed that while these two individuals have been detained, efforts are underway to identify and apprehend other persons believed to be connected to the video to assist with their inquiries.

The public is urged to remain calm and allow the police to conduct their investigation without interference.

The outcome of the investigation is expected to be made public in the coming days.

Following the Police statement on the arrest, some netizens applauded the move while others questioned the need while asking what was doen when people were doing same during the erstwhile government, Akufo-Addo led administration.

Some questioned the police why the likes of U.S.-based Ghanaian political commentator and founder of Loud Silence Media, Kevin Taylor, who is known for insulting government officials, including presidents, are still walking free.

Meanwhile, citizens insulting presidents publicly or going online to trahs leaders is nothing new in Ghana. There have been several instances and cases where some citizens who insult or verbally abuse the president or any other high ranking official is apprehended by the police.

In September 2017, Frank Kwaku Appiah, popularly known as Appiah Stadium Under President Nana Akufo-Addo (NPP Government), was arrested for calling President Akufo-Addo a “wee smoker.” His arrest sparked national debate over free speech and political bias.

Also in May 2023, under the NPP government, Raphael Okoe Ankrah, also known as Okoe Killer, was arrested and remanded for posting a video on social media in which he used highly offensive language against President Akufo-Addo. He was charged with offensive conduct conducive to breaches of the peace.

“Nana Akufo-Addo, this is me Oko the Killer… We dey hung, your Excellency, in 2024, you won’t get anything"... he said.Other unprintable and offensive well he other.

The crash that led to these suspects' arrest

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) earlier reported that its air force helicopter Z9, which took off this morning at 0912 hrs from Accra and headed for Obuasi, was off the radar.

Hours later, the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, confirmed the unfortunate demise of the 8 individuals comprising three crew and five passengers.

The deceased are Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence; Alhaji Dr. Murtala Mohammed, Member of Parliament for Tamale Central and Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology; Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Limuna, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress; Samuel Aboagye, Deputy Director-General of NADMO; Squadron Leader Peter Anala of the Ghana Air Force; Flying Officer Tsum Ampadu of the Ghana Air Force; and Sergeant Ernest Addo of the Ghana Air Force.

As part of the 3-day national mourning, the "Evening of Reflections and Memorials" took place at the Forecourt of the State House on Saturday, August 9. The event was open to all Ghanaians, including the general public, friends, and family of the departed.

On the first day of mourning, which began Thursday, August 7, a public laying of flowers and lighting of candles at the Ceremonial Garden at the front of the Presidency took place to honour victims of the tragic GAF helicopter crash. Members of the public, families, and friends were present. President John Dramani Mahama and the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, shed tears while laying a wreath in honour of the eight victims.

The public laying of flowers and lighting of candles at the Ceremonial Garden at the front of the Presidency to honour victims of the tragic GAF helicopter crash continued on August 8. It was held at the Ceremonial Garden, the Presidency. This provided more time and space for citizens unable to attend Day 1 to pay their respects and join the national act of mourning.

Last week, the samples of the remains of the deceased involved in the tragic Ghana Armed Forces helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region on August 6 were transported to South Africa for DNA analysis to aid in their identification.

Per reports, the autopsy and identification procedures were to have been carried out by the 37 Military Hospital; however, the conditions of the bodies have called for advanced forensic processes.

Recent development

Member of Parliament for Tamale Central and Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology, Alhaji Dr. Murtala Mohammed, and Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Limuna—two out of the eight who perished in the August 6 helicopter crash—have been buried in accordance with Islamic Tradition, Custom and Practices.

They were buried following the arrival of the DNA results on Saturday, August 9

On Sunday, August 10, Muslim Jannaza prayers were offered at the forecourt of State House. Following that, the deceased were buried at the Military Cemetery, Accra. The Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, led the prayers.

President John Dramani Mahama and Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin attended the prayers, which were also attended by Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, religious leaders, and institutional heads, among many other Ghanaians.

At the burial site, President Mahama used the opportunity to thank all who were present and showed their sympathy to the family and country as a whole. He also expressed gratitude to the family for their patience in ensuring the DNA tests are carried out to aid the identification of the two deceased.

“Today is not a day for talking; I want to thank you for your sympathy. I want to thank the two families for their patience. I want to thank the family for accepting my decision for the two brothers to be buried here. The families are free to visit anytime they want to do so,” he added.

Meanwhile, books of condolence were opened simultaneously on Sunday, August 10, at the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ghana Armed Forces Headquarters, the National Democratic Congress headquarters, and the head office of NADMO. The books will be open until Thursday, 14th August 2025.

On Friday, 15th August, an inter-denominational state funeral will be held for the remaining six individuals who lost their lives in the tragic helicopter accident.

Minister for Health Minister Akandoh and the Inspector General of Police, COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno, on Sunday, August 10, received the DNA results for the remaining six deceased in the August 6 helicopter crash.

They received the results at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA). Engaging the media, the Health Minister noted that the results have been received earlier due to the expedited efforts put in by the government.

The Funeral Planning Committee has encouraged members of the public to send messages of condolences and heartfelt tributes for inclusion in the official brochure. Tributes are to be sent to the email tributes@presidency.gov.gh. Deadline for submissions is Wednesday, August 13 at 12:00 PM (noon) GMT.

Also, the government is set to create a special fund to support the needs of the children of the victims of the August 6th Adansi helicopter crash.

President John Mahama made the announcement during an address on Tuesday, August 12, while attending the funeral rites for the late Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna, which were held at Adenta.

"At the funeral, we will announce a programme for creating a fund that will assist with the education of their children. Persons who want to contribute to the future of the children they've left behind would have the opportunity to do so."

President Mahama emphasised the need to protect the victims’ dependants from hardship, specifically mentioning the two-month-old child of the military pilot, Peter Bafemi.

“It's a difficult calamity. Because if you look at all those who died, they were at the prime of their lives and had so much responsibility, children still in school, and some even with infants as young as two months… These responsibilities are what we have to take up to make sure that the absence of the parents does not adversely affect the innocent children.”