President John Mahama has announced the creation of a special fund to support the children of the eight victims who tragically died in a helicopter crash on August 6.

The announcement was made during the funeral rites for the late Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna.

The government’s decision comes in the wake of the devastating Ghana Air Force Harbin Z-9 helicopter crash, which claimed the lives of all eight people on board. President Mahama emphasized the nation’s responsibility to protect the victims’ dependents from hardship, specifically highlighting the two-month-old child of military pilot, Peter Bafemi.

A Nation’s Grief and Commitment

Speaking on Tuesday, August 12, President Mahama addressed the profound loss felt by the nation. “It’s a difficult calamity,” he said. “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.”

President Mahama confirmed that a state funeral for all eight victims will be held this Friday, August 15, where the full details of the fund will be officially unveiled. The fund aims to assist with the children’s education and future welfare, and will also provide an opportunity for private citizens to contribute.

Victims of the Tragedy

The high-profile victims who perished in the accident were traveling to Obuasi in the Ashanti Region to attend an event aimed at combating illegal mining, known as galamsey.

The group included two cabinet ministers, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah (Minister for Defence) and Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed (Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation).

Also among the deceased were:

• Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator
• Samuel Aboagye, a former parliamentary candidate
• Samuel Sarpong, the Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)

The helicopter’s crew members were:

• Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala
• Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu
• Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah

The aircraft went off radar, triggering a search-and-rescue operation that sadly ended in tragedy.¹⁷