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Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has expressed profound grief over the sudden deaths of his close colleagues — Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, and Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed — in the August 6 military helicopter crash that claimed eight lives.
Speaking in a visibly emotional interview with some journalists during the flower-laying ceremony at the Ceremonial Gardens of Jubilee House on Thursday, August 7, Dr Ayine described the experience as “traumatic” and “almost unbearable”.
“I picked it up on social media. I couldn’t believe it. I made some calls, and it was a shocking revelation that my three colleagues had departed,” he said, his voice breaking. “It’s extremely difficult to talk about them. I will pass for now; I don’t want to break down in front of national television again.”
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Fighting tears, he added, “All three of them were very close to me; they were my very good friends. It’s extremely difficult for me.”
The tragic crash, which occurred in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region, has plunged the nation into mourning, prompting the government to declare a three-day national mourning period.
The eight individuals who perished in the crash include:
- Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence
- Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation; MP for Tamale Central
- Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator
- Dr Samuel Sarpong, National Vice Chairman of the NDC
- Samuel Aboagye, former parliamentary candidate
- Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Ghana Air Force
- Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, Ghana Air Force
- Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah, Ghana Air Force
The flower-laying ceremony, held at Jubilee House, was attended by President John Dramani Mahama, Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyeman, top officials of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), members of the security services, bereaved families, and members of the public.
The national mourning will continue until Saturday, August 9, with the final event being an Evening of Reflections and Memorials at the Forecourt of the State House.
Government officials have pledged that state funeral arrangements will be formally communicated in the coming days as the country continues to grapple with one of the most devastating tragedies in recent history.
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