A solemn farewell ceremony was held yesterday, August 10 at the Forecourt of the State House, followed with a burial service at the Military Cemetery near Burma Camp, all located in Accra for late Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, and late Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed, who faced their unfortunate demise during a helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom district in the Ashanti region.
Late Alhaji Muniru before his demise was Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator.
Late Dr. Ibrahim however was Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, and MP for Tamale Central.
The two Muslims, alongside with 6 others namely; Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed, Dr. Samuel Sarpong, Samuel Aboagye, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah were attending an event in Obuasi for an anti-illegal mining operation.
Janazah prayer was done for the two individuals, in line with Islamic tradition before their bodies were sent to the Military Cemetery for burial.
An inter-denominational state funeral for all the victims of the crash is scheduled for Friday, August 15, 2025, at the Black Star Square, which would be followed by the burial service of remaining six.
President Mahama speaking at the ceremony, thanked the bereaved families for their acceptance in allowing official arrangements for the funeral rites and prayed for God’s mercy and a place in Paradise for the two lost souls.
“Today is not a day for talking, and I find it very difficult to find words to speak, and so I just say thank you and may God grant them Paradise and may the memory of them guide us too. Indeed, the Quran tells us that whoever attends the funeral of a fellow and then stays to the last end of a funeral receives blessing. I want to thank the two families for their patience. We recognize that in Islam when a person has died, they are supposed to be interred as quickly as possible”
The President added, “I believe that they would have wanted us to continue with the hard work that we were doing with them and so in memory of them we shall continue to work very hard, to serve the people of Ghana and to ensure the success of our reset agenda so that their names will be written in gold in Paradise. The two brothers, Muniru and Murtala were both personally close to me. Murtala, I mentored when he was a new MP at Nanton… one of our very bright intellectuals and very eloquent in Parliament. Muniru was like a younger brother and a permanent fixture in my house… this is a very deep personal loss for me. By Allah’s Grace, He would receive them in Jannat of Ridaus”.
The burial service was attended by the President, Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, families of the victims, government officials, Members of Parliament, the Muslim community, and members of the public.
DNA Findings Arrive
The DNA testing and analysis for all eight victims sent to South Africa due to the severely charred condition of the bodies have arrived in the country, President John Dramani Mahama has announced.
“Happily, that process was concluded yesterday [August 9]. We received the forensic results for our brothers [Murtala and Alhaji Muniru], and that is why we have come to bury them ahead. As I speak, the forensic reports for the rest have also arrived. In consultation with the families, we will decide how their funerals will be held. But, as we have said, on August 15 we will hold a state funeral for all of them,” the President announced on Sunday, 10 August.
Three Days Mourning
The government earlier declared a three-day national mourning period which started on Thursday, August 7, marked by a flower-laying ceremony and ended on Saturday, August 9, with an evening of reflection and memorial service.
The Saturday Evening of Reflection and Memorial commenced with arrivals, seating, and musical performances, followed by interfaith prayers led by Colonel Francis Agyemang, Chaplain and Director of Religious Affairs of the Ghana Air Force, and Major Mohammed Alhassan, Chief Imam of the Ghana Armed Forces.
Key segments included a national reflection titled “Their Service and Ultimate Sacrifice, Our National Call to Action” by Presidential Spokesperson and Minister of State for Government Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu.
There was an institutional tribute titled “They were part of us in the service of Ghana” from the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, Ghana Armed Forces, National Security Council Secretariat, Parliament, and NADMO.
Family representatives also delivered personal reflections under the theme “Before They Were Heroes, They Were Ours,” followed by tributes from the National Democratic Congress.
