Ghana to establish fund for children of helicopter crash victims
President John Dramani Mahama has announced the creation of a dedicated fund to support the children of the eight people killed in last week’s military helicopter crash.
The President made the announcement on Tuesday (12 August) while attending the funeral rites of the late Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna — one of the victims of the 6 August accident.
The Ghana Air Force Harbin Z-9 helicopter went down while travelling to Obuasi in the Ashanti Region for an anti-illegal mining event. All eight on board were killed.
Two cabinet ministers — Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed — were among the dead, alongside Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Samuel Aboagye, a former parliamentary candidate; and Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the governing National Democratic Congress.
The crew members — Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah — also perished.
Speaking at the funeral in Accra, President Mahama described the crash as a “difficult calamity”, noting that many of the victims left behind young dependants — including the two-month-old child of the military pilot.
“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,” he said.
The fund, to be launched at a state funeral for the victims on Friday, will assist with the children’s education and welfare. Members of the public will be invited to contribute.
The crash triggered a search-and-rescue mission after the aircraft went off radar, but all eight were confirmed dead when the wreckage was found.
