President John Mahama has announced plans to establish a special fund to support the children of the eight people who died in the Ghana Air Force helicopter crash on August 6.
The pledge was made on Tuesday, August 12, during the funeral rites for the late Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna, one of the high-profile casualties. The Harbin Z-9 helicopter went off radar while en route to Obuasi in the Ashanti Region for an anti-galamsey operation, later confirmed to have crashed, killing all on board. The victims included two cabinet ministers Dr Edward Omane Boamah (Defence) and Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed (Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation) along with senior government officials and Air Force crew members.
Describing the loss as “a difficult calamity,” President Mahama noted that many of the deceased left behind young children, including a two-month-old infant, and stressed the need to secure their education and welfare. He said full details of the fund will be unveiled at a state funeral for all eight victims on Friday, August 15, and invited public contributions to support the children’s schooling and future needs. The other deceased were Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Samuel Aboagye, former parliamentary candidate; Samuel Sarpong, NDC Vice Chairman; Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala; Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu; and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
