President John Dramani Mahama has announced two new interim ministerial appointments following the death of Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed.
The Presidential Spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, in a statement, announced that Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson to assume additional responsibility as Minister for Defence with immediate effect.
Also, Hon. Emmanuel Kofi Armah Buah, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, has been appointed to act as interim Minister for Environment, Science and Technology.
Mahama’s interim appointments come following Ghana’s loss of eight people, including Dr Omane Boamah and Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, two cabinet members who passed away following a helicopter crash at Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region on Wednesday, August 6.
The helicopter was carrying eight individuals, including three crew members and five passengers, among them the ministers, a presidential staffer identified as Samuel Sarpong, and the ministers’ security detail.
Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, and Samuel Aboagye, a former Parliamentary Candidate, and Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of NDC, have all been confirmed dead.
The crew members are Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, on Wednesday night received the remains of the eight who died in the tragic military hospital.
Their bodies were received at the Air Force Base in Accra.
President John Mahama has also announced a three-day national mourning period.
Meanwhile, Shamima Muslim, the deputy Presidential Spokesperson, has revealed that President John Dramani Mahama is completely heartbroken following the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of eight Ghanaians.
According to Shamima Muslim, President Mahama is grieving the loss of some of his closest and most trusted allies.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Thursday, August 7, Ms Muslim stated, “To the President of the Republic, who is completely heartbroken that some of his best and brightest and closest confidants have had to depart this world in such a devastatingly painful way.”
“But who are we to question the will of the Almighty? He burdens not a soul beyond his capacity,” she added.
She added, “What we would also seek from all of you is to continuously bear the President up in prayer. All of us as appointees will come and go, and yes, our lives are not assured as citizens and as humans.”
“Bear the President in prayer, that he may not be confounded by the heaviness of the crown he wears. It is the will of God. We accept it unquestioningly, but we pray to the Almighty that He who has given us a heavy burden will grant all of us the strength to walk the path.”
Shamima Muslim further thanked Ghanaians for their outpouring of support during this period of national mourning.
She added, “I’d like to first of all say thank you to the people of Ghana, to all of you for the outpouring of love, of support, of sympathies that you have shared. “It has gone a long way in easing the hollowness in the hearts of the family, especially the spouses.”
She further revealed that some adult children of the victims are aware of the situation, but some of the younger children do not know what has happened as yet.
