President John Dramani Mahama is said to be emotionally down
The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has disclosed that President John Dramani Mahama is emotionally distraught following the tragic deaths of key government officials in a helicopter crash.
Speaking to JoyNews at the Presidency, where the deaths were announced, Haruna Iddrisu said a team led by the Vice President has been constituted to officially inform the families of the Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah; the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed; and other officials who died in the crash.
“… A tragic departure of our colleagues in the service of our country. They were on their way to Obuasi to launch a cooperative mining initiative there. The President is deeply devastated emotionally. We pray that God will give him and the Ghanaian people the fortitude to accept this tragic loss. Her Excellency, the Vice President, Prof. Jane Naana, is now leading a government delegation to formally, albeit with difficulty, convey the sad passing of our colleagues Dr. Omane Boamah, Dr. Murtala Mohammed, Alhaji Muniru, and Comrade Sarpong.”
“So, the Vice President has constituted a team, one led by Julius Debrah and the National Chairman, to Koforidua, supported by the Army Commander. Other teams will visit the two other families, and a delegation will visit Takoradi tomorrow. Please accept our sympathies and condolences; this is a difficult moment for all of us.”
A little after midday on Wednesday, the Ghana Armed Forces issued a statement indicating that a helicopter headed for Obuasi had gone off radar, with efforts underway to locate the missing aircraft.
“A GAF helicopter, Z9, that took off this morning at 0912hrs from Accra and headed for Obuasi is currently off the radar. All efforts are being made to establish contact. On board were three crew members and five passengers. Further details will be communicated soon,” the statement said.
The Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, confirmed the deaths of the eight persons in a short briefing at the Jubilee House.
He confirmed that the victims lost their lives in the helicopter crash that occurred at Adansi Akrofuom in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region.
The others include Limuna Muniru, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC); and Samuel Aboagye, NADMO Deputy Director-General.
GA
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