President John Mahama has revealed plans to create a dedicated fund for the eight victims in the tragic August 6 helicopter crash.
According to John Mahama, all those who died were at the prime of their lives and had so many responsibilities.
President Mahama made this known when he attended the funeral of the late Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna.
He further reiterated plans for a state funeral for all eight victims will be held this Friday, August 15.
Speaking during an address on Tuesday, August 12, John Mahama stated, “It’s a difficult calamity. Because 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.”
“At the funeral, we will announce a programme for creating a fund that will assist with the education of their children,” he said.
He added, “Persons who want to contribute to the future of the children they’ve left behind would have the opportunity to do so”.
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.
The eight were on their way to Obuasi to attend an event aimed at fighting illegal mining.
In a brief statement, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) stated that a helicopter, identified as a Z-9, had reportedly gone off the radar after taking off on the morning of Wednesday, August 6, 2025. The aircraft was headed to Obuasi when contact was lost.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the Ghana Armed Forces has initiated a full-scale investigation into the tragic helicopter crash.
According to John Mahama, an investigative Board of Inquiry has been set up to lead the full-scale investigations.
Addressing the nation on August 7, 2025, John Mahama stated, “As we mourn, questions about the cause of this tragedy are natural and important. I want to assure the families and the nation that the Ghana Armed Forces has initiated a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances of this crash.
An Investigative Board of Inquiry has been set up to determine the cause of the crash. The flight data and cockpit voice recorders have been retrieved. All eight bodies of our departed comrades have been recovered, and the government is in close touch with the bereaved families regarding the identification of the bodies and their final interment.”
In addition, Bright Simons the IMANI Africa’s Honorary Vice President, has questioned whether the Ghana Armed Forces are trained to operate in the forest following the August 6 tragic military helicopter crash.
According to Brigt Simons, how do Ghanaians expect the military to respond if they are not trained to operate in difficult forest terrain?
He noted that there are global standards that exist for such operations, and Ghana must follow them.
Brigt Simons boldly emphasised that the Authorities, citing the challenging forest terrain as their delay in responding following the tragic incident, is not acceptable.