President John Dramani Mahama has confirmed that government has received the results of forensic examinations conducted on the victims of last Wednesday’s fatal military helicopter crash.
The President disclosed this at the Islamic final funeral rites of two of the victims; late Minister for Environment, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed and Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Mohammed Limuna on Sunday, August 10
“Today is not a day for talking; I just want to thank you for your sympathies. The Qu‘ran teaches that he who attends the funeral of a departed friend and waits till the final prayers will receive more blessings,” he said.
Mr. Mahama said the tests carried out in South Africa were crucial in providing formal identification of the eight individuals who lost their lives in the incident at Adansi Akrofuom in the Ashanti Region.
The expedited forensic process was undertaken to ensure that the remains could be released to the families for dignified burial rites in accordance with cultural and religious traditions.
“We want to thank the families for their patience, as in Islam when a person dies, the person must be buried immediately, but due to the conditions the bodies were in, we were unable to identify them.
“So yesterday we received electronically the forensic details of the two and that is why we are able to do this today,” President Mahama explained.
President Mahama added that Dr. Muhammed and Alhaji Limuna were very close to him.
“They had personal relations with me; I mentored Murtala and Muniru was an assistant to me. I sent him on errands,” he added.
President Mahama expressed gratitude to the South African authorities and the Ghanaian forensic experts who collaborated on the process, noting that it allowed for a swift yet thorough identification procedure.
He also reiterated his condolences to the bereaved families and pledged that government would continue to honour the memory of the victims.
Plans are already underway for state-assisted funeral ceremonies for the six remaining deceased, which will be coordinated with the affected families and relevant institutions.
The military helicopter went down on August 6 while transporting the delegation to a national assignment. An investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.
