Final funeral rites for six out of the eight victims of the Adansi helicopter crash are slated for today, August 15. The rites are to be held for the fallen heroes who died on board a military helicopter carrying them to Obuasi for an anti-galamsey event on Wednesday, August 6.

President John Dramani Mahama made this known when he addressed the nation on Thursday night, August 7, a day after the tragic incident. The eight were on a national assignment when they met their untimely death. The deceased are Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence; Alhaji Dr. Murtala Mohammed, Member of Parliament for Tamale Central and Minister for Environment, Science and Technology; Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Limuna, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress; Samuel Aboagye, Deputy Director-General of NADMO; Squadron Leader Peter Anala of the Ghana Air Force; Flying Officer Tsum Ampadu of the Ghana Air Force; and Sergeant Ernest Addo of the Ghana Air Force.

Among the eight victims, two Muslims — Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, and Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator in charge of Human Security, Alhaji Muniru Limuna Mohammed — were laid to rest earlier, on Sunday, August 10, where Janazah prayers were also held at the Forecourt of the State House in Accra before they were buried at the Military Cemetery in Tse Addo.

At a press conference on Thursday, August 14, the Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations provided an outline of how tomorrow’s state ceremony will be carried out. The service categorized into three folds will be conducted by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

“We would have the three burial services, during which period some tributes would be read, and we would have Qu’ran recitations during that period. And the second part would be the main funeral and burial service. The pre-burial will start at 7:30am and will continue to 9:00am.”

“We expect the Vice President to arrive at the funeral grounds at 8:50am in the morning, and that will be followed by the President at 9:00am, when the state service will begin. The service is programmed to last for approximately three hours, during which period we would take the biographies of the departed eight colleagues, parents, and siblings. After the biography we will take tributes from the widows and then also tributes from the children,” he added.

Tributes will also be read by senior government officials during the pre-burial period before 9:00am. Following the service, the remains of the other six victims will be taken to the military cemetery for interment at Tse Addo.

“And there as well, the GAF together with the churches of the six departed comrades, will take charge of the burial ceremony at the military cemetery,” he explained. Mr Dogbey also revealed that arrangements have been made to provide buses to convey the families that would be heading to the military cemetery.

“The idea is to reduce the traffic en route to the cemetery and also manage the traffic at the cemetery. And so buses will be provided to the six families, and a few others who would be able to join will join,” he explained.

The government anticipates a large gathering for Friday’s state funeral. As such, Mr Dobge has entreated all who will make their way to the Black Star Square to behave in a manner that enhances decorum. He revealed measures that are being put in place by the government to ensure an incident-free and lawful state event.

“Because of the rather large number of people that will be expected tomorrow, a number of measures have been taken to ensure that we have a very solemn ceremony. So for the media that is here, you would have seen the ongoing set up. We are trying our best to provide as many chairs as we can to accommodate the thousands of people that we expect to join the various families and the government officials here for the service.”

“We are going to label the various canopies appropriately to accommodate those who will be coming. We entreat the public who would want to join us for the service to arrive early and collaborate with the protocol and security officials on ground to assist them to sit. We do not expect people to be crisscrossing the inner perimeter before and during the service. The inner perimeter is going to be locked out to mourners and the mourners are expected to remain under the canopies for the service. When you come in later today or early tomorrow morning, you would notice the labelling that will be on the various canopies indicating where people are supposed to sit.”

He further confirmed that “there will be a heavy security deployment, obviously not because the president and the vice president are here but also for the safety of all mourners that are going to be here.” Mr Dogbey has urged all and sundry to collaborate with the security detail posted to ensure a successful ceremony.

“If you are driving in, you will be required to alight at a specific point and walk into the mourning zone and your vehicle can be parked at a designated car park. If you are driving yourself, then you would have to go and park and come and walk into the service area.”

To the media, the Deputy Chief of Staff encouraged reporters to remain within the designated space provided as only photographers and videographers will be allowed to access the inner perimeter to take coverage.

“With relation to the media, I believe that a statement was issued earlier by the minister of state for government communication on arrangements that have been made for this service. And media houses and journalists were required to apply for accreditation.

"Media houses and journalists that applied and have been accordingly accredited are the only ones that will be allowed in the inner perimeter, which is designated as the special media zone for the service. And that accreditation is only for camera holders, video camera holders, and photographers; they are the only ones going to be allowed in the inner perimeter. Reporters and others are not going to be in the perimeter.”

Thousands of Ghanaians from near and far, as well as international diplomats, are expected to converge at the Black Stars Square to bid farewell to the gallant heroes who made a significant contribution to the development of the country.