President John Dramani Mahama has announced that a state funeral will be held on Friday, August 15, at the Black Star Square in honour of the eight individuals who lost their lives in the tragic military helicopter crash on Wednesday, August 6, in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region. The inter-denominational service will form part of a week-long national mourning programme to pay tribute to the fallen ministers, government officials, and military crew.
According to the President, the commemorations will begin with an Evening of Reflections and Memorial on Saturday, August 9, at 5:00 p.m. at the forecourt of the State House. In addition, books of condolence will be opened from Sunday, August 10, to Thursday, August 14, at the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ghana Armed Forces Headquarters, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) headquarters, and the head office of NADMO.
The crash claimed the lives of five high-ranking state officials — Minister for Defence Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Muniru Mohammed, former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye, and NDC Vice Chairman Samuel Sarpong.
Also among the victims were three members of the military crew: Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah. The officials were reportedly aboard a Ghana Armed Forces Z-9 helicopter en route to Obuasi for an assignment when the aircraft went off radar. All eight bodies have since been recovered, while investigations into the cause of the crash remain ongoing.
President Mahama had earlier declared three days of national mourning starting Thursday, August 7, to honour what he described as “national heroes who died in the line of duty.” In a bid to aid identification, samples of the remains have been flown to South Africa for DNA testing.
Samples of the remains have been flown to South Africa for DNA testing. As a result, the burial of Murtala, which was initially scheduled for Thursday morning in accordance with Islamic rites, was postponed.
