President John Dramani Mahama has announced that a state funeral will be held on Friday, August 15, at Black Star Square in Accra to honour the eight individuals who died in the tragic military helicopter crash on Wednesday, August 6, in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region.
The funeral will be inter-denominational and part of a week-long national mourning programme to pay tribute to the late ministers, government officials, and military personnel who perished in the line of duty.
Kicking off the commemoration will be an Evening of Reflections and Memorial on Saturday, August 9, at 5:00 p.m. at the Forecourt of the State House.
As part of the mourning arrangements, books of condolence will be opened from Sunday, August 10, to Thursday, August 14, at the following institutions:
- Ministry of Defence
- Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Ghana Armed Forces Headquarters
- NDC National Headquarters
- NADMO Head Office
Victims of the Crash
The crash claimed the lives of five senior government officials:
- Dr. Edward Omane Boamah – Minister for Defence
- Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed – Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation
- Muniru Mohammed – Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator
- Samuel Aboagye – Former parliamentary candidate
- Dr. Samuel Sarpong – Vice Chairman of the NDC
Also killed were three Ghana Air Force crew members:
- Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala
- Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu
- Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah
Initial investigations suggest the victims were aboard a Ghana Armed Forces Z-9 helicopter en route to Obuasi when the aircraft went off radar and later crashed.
President Mahama had previously declared three days of national mourning, starting Thursday, August 7, in honour of what he described as “national heroes.”
Meanwhile, samples of the remains have been flown to South Africa for DNA testing to confirm their identities as preparations continue for the final funeral rites.
