Government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting families affected by the recent military helicopter crash, with assurances of assistance particularly for the children of the deceased officials. This follows the establishment of a Child Support Fund, which has already raised GHS 2.3 million through contributions from the public and institutions.
On Tuesday, August 19, Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang led a high-powered delegation to visit the bereaved families. The visits, held behind closed doors, were aimed at expressing condolences and assessing how the spouses and children are coping in the aftermath of the tragedy.
The fatal crash, which occurred on August 6 at Adansi Akrofrom in the Ashanti Region, claimed the lives of two Cabinet Ministers, Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence, and Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology along with other senior officials, including NDC National Vice Chairman, Dr. Samuel Sarpong, Deputy NADMO Director, Samuel Aboagye, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Muniru Limuna Mohammed and three Air Force crew members.
The Vice President was accompanied by top government and party officials, among them Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Administration, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, Chief of Staff at the Vice President’s Office, Alex Segbefia; Senior Presidential Advisor, Valerie Sawyerr, former Finance Minister, Seth Terkper and NDC General Secretary, Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey.
Deputy Government Spokesperson, Shamima Muslim, speaking after the visits explained that the President though out of the country had directed that families be visited individually.
“The President felt it was important to reach out to each household, especially the spouses and children. In his absence, the Vice President led the delegation today,” she noted.
She encouraged Ghanaians to contribute to the Child Support Fund, stressing that the welfare and education of the children of the fallen officials remain a priority