Helicopter crash victims laid to rest

The remaining victims of the Au­gust 6 helicopter crash were laid to rest at the Military Cemetery at Tse Addo in Accra, following a state funeral at the Black Star Square.

The six included Defence Minis­ter, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Council (NDC), Dr Samuel Sarpong, Deputy Director General of the Na­tional Disaster Organisation (NADMO), Samuel Aboagye, and three Ghana Armed Forces officers Squadron Lead­er Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manaen Twum-Ampadu and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.

Two of the victims, who are Mus­lims, Environment Minister Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed and Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Moham­med Muniru Limuna were earlier laid to rest.

The funeral ceremony was attended by the President, John Dramani Maha­ma, Vice President Naana Jane Opoku- Agyemang, Speaker of Parliament Al­ban Bagbin, the Acting Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and service chiefs.

It was a day of pain and sorrow as tributes poured from widows, chil­dren, colleagues, and state officials.

President John Dramani Mahama in his speech hailed the deceased as patriots who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty.

• Former President John Agyekum Kufuor (second from right), Former Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia (right), and the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin (left) and others

• Former President Akuffo-Addo (fourth from left) and Wife arriving at the Independence Square for the funeral

By Linda Abrefi Wadie