President John Dramani Mahama has confirmed that forensic reports for all eight victims of the August 6 military helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region have been received.
The announcement came during the burial of two of the victims, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, and MP for Tamale Central, and Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator.
The President explained that DNA samples were sent to South Africa for analysis due to the severely charred condition of the bodies. “Happily, that process was concluded yesterday [August 9]. We received the forensic results for our brothers [Murtala and Alhaji Muniru], and that is why we have come to bury them ahead of time.”
“As I speak, the forensic reports for the rest have also arrived,” Mahama revealed. He added that arrangements for the other victims’ funerals would be made in consultation with their families, with a state funeral planned for Friday, 15 August, at Black Star Square in Accra.
In keeping with Islamic tradition, Janazah prayers for Dr Murtala and Alhaji Muniru were led by the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, at the Forecourt of the State House in Accra. The two were later laid to rest at the Military Cemetery near Burma Camp.
The crash claimed the lives of Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah, former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye, National Democratic Congress (NDC) Vice Chairman Dr Samuel Sarpong, and three crew members, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah. The government declared three days of national mourning, marked by a flower-laying ceremony on August 7 and a memorial service on August 9.
The Z-9 military helicopter, which departed Accra at 09:12 GMT bound for Obuasi for an anti-illegal mining operation, went “off the radar” shortly after take-off. It was carrying three crew members and five passengers. A search-and-rescue mission later confirmed the deaths of all aboard, marking one of Ghana’s most tragic aviation incidents in recent years.
