Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has noted that his outfit has been unable to push hard on prosecution for about a week now due to the shock and grief that has hit the ministry following the devastating Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter crash.

Engaging the media, he acknowledged that personally, he has been hit hard due to his closeness with three of the eight victims. He noted that their death has hit the country hard and has left all Ghanaians saddened.

He said, “the entire country has been impacted by this disaster, and the Ministry of Justice is an integral part of the society. So, we have also been negatively impacted. Personally, I was very close to the three top officials and I'm sure you saw me, break down when I was asked to say something about the late Murtala Mohammed.”

“It is something that has impacted the entire nation. It has slowed down work as it is understandably the case, because we cannot be mourning our heroes and at the same time be efficiently and happily performing our duties. So, it has impacted us negatively.”

Last week, Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine broke down in tears at the residence of Environment Minister Hon. Ibrahim Mohammed Murtala while engaging the media.

In his submission, the Attorney-General further expressed hope that the demise of the eight individuals will enhance the commitment of Ghanaians to rid the country of illegal mining activities that keep destroying the environment and leading to loss of lives and properties.

“God will make a way, that is what I always believe. This country will rise up and then do what the falling heroes were required to do as public officers because they died in the line of duty. The reason they were going for this ceremony was to make lives better for the people of this country.”

“The illegal mining has polluted our rivers, and destroyed the environment. It has made life unbearable for communities living in and around mining areas, and sustainable mining is one of the things that we can do to develop this country. The president is committed to it. The public officers who were going for this ceremony were committed to it and they were working very hard to ensure that we have a system of sustainable mining that will at the same time give us wealth without destroying the environment that produces the wealth,” he added.

Background

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) earlier reported that its airforce helicopter Z9, which took off on August 6th morning at 0912 hrs from Accra and headed for Obuasi, was off the radar.

Hours later, the Chief of Staff Julius Debrah confirmed the unfortunate demise of the 8 individuals comprising three crew and five passengers.

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; Sergeant Ernest Addo of the Ghana Air Force.

As part of the 3-day national mourning, the "Evening of Reflections and Memorials" took place at the Forecourt of the State House on Saturday, August 9. The event was opened to all Ghanaians, including the general public, friends, and family of the departed.

On the first day of mourning, which began Thursday, August 7, a public laying of flowers and lighting of candles at the Ceremonial Garden at the front of the Presidency took place to honour victims of the tragic GAF helicopter crash. Members of the public, families, and friends were present. President John Dramani Mahama and the Chief of Staff Julius Debrah shed tears while laying a wreath in honour of the eight victims.

The public laying of flowers and lighting of candles at the Ceremonial Garden at the front of the Presidency to honour victims of the tragic GAF helicopter crash continued on August 8. It was held at the Ceremonial Garden, Presidency. This provided more time and space for citizens unable to attend Day 1 to pay their respects and join the national act of mourning.

Last week, the samples of the remains of the deceased involved in the tragic Ghana Armed Forces helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region on August 6 were transported to South Africa for DNA analysis to aid in their identification.

Per reports, the autopsy and identification procedures were to have been carried out by the 37 Military Hospital; however, the conditions of the bodies have called for advanced forensic processes.

Member of Parliament for Tamale Central and Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology, Alhaji Dr. Murtala Mohammed, and Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Limuna—two out of the eight who perished in the August 6 helicopter crash—have been buried in accordance with Islamic Tradition, Custom and Practices. They were buried following the arrival of the DNA results on Saturday, August 9

On Sunday, August 10, Muslim Jannaza prayers were offered at the forecourt of State House. Following that, the deceased were buried at the Military Cemetery, Accra. The Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, led the prayers.

President John Dramani Mahama and Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin attended the prayers, which were also attended by Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, religious leaders, and institutional heads, among many other Ghanaians.

At the burial site, President Mahama used the opportunity to thank all who were present and showed their sympathy to the family and country as a whole. He also expressed gratitude to the family for their patience in ensuring the DNA tests are carried out to aid the identification of the two deceased.

“Today is not a day for talking; I want to thank you for your sympathy. I want to thank the two families for their patience. I want to thank the family for accepting my decision for the two brothers to be buried here. The families are free to visit anytime they want to do so,” he added.

Minister for Health Minister Akandoh and the Inspector General of Police, COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno, on Sunday, August 10, received the DNA results for the remaining six deceased in the August 6 helicopter crash.

They received the results at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA). Engaging the media, the Health Minister noted that the results have been received earlier due to the expedited efforts put in by the government.

The government is set to create a special fund to support the children of the victims of the August 6th Adansi helicopter crash incident.

President John Dramani Mahama made the announcement during an address on Tuesday, August 12, at Adenta, while attending the funeral rites for the late Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna, one of the victims.

President Mahama emphasized the need to protect the children of the 8 fallen heroes who lost their lives while on a national assignment.

Probing of helicopter crash

Deputy Minister for Defence, Brogya Genfi, has indicated that the government of Ghana has formally requested international support in its quest to ascertain the cause of the airforce helicopter Z9.

Engaging the media on August 13, he stated that “We have requested international collaboration and have received a positive response.” “We also want to assure you that the Ghana Armed Forces has already begun investigations into the incident,” the Deputy Minister announced.

Brogya Genfi has assured the general public that all pieces of information discovered as part of investigations will be made known.

“And so we want to assure you, our Chiefs, that nothing will be covered; it will be transparent, and the public will know exactly what happened in the course of this tragic accident,” he said.

On the other hand, the Deputy Defence Minister has cautioned against dissemination of unconfirmed reports with regard to the death of the eight individuals involved in the helicopter crash.

“We also want to caution the media and some analysts who have been churning out misinformation and untruths about this whole incident. All I want to say is that Ghanaians should trust that the Ministry and the Ghana Armed Forces will be diligent in the investigations and transparent about it. Whatever was the cause will be made known to the people of Ghana, and we will take some lessons from that. I don’t want to say anything beyond that.”