Assemblies of God, Ghana has proposed to the state to set up support schemes and award packages for all the dependants of the eight gallant men who lost their lives in the recent helicopter crash.

It said doing so would commensurate with the supreme sacrifice they had made as well as the distinctive service they had rendered to the state.

“This gesture will go a long way to underline the point that Ghana, our beloved nation, is indeed worth dying for,” a statement issued by the church and signed by its General Secretary, Rev. Dr Ernest Birikorang, which paid tribute to the memories of the eight fallen Ghanaian patriots, said.

Victims

Assemblies of God, Ghana joined the nation in deeply mourning the gallant eight who lost their lives in the tragic crash at Adansi Brofoyedu in the Adansi Akrofuom District in the Ashanti Region.

They included the Minister of Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah; the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Alhaji Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, who is also the Member of Parliament for Tamale Central; the acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna, and the Vice-Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Sarpong.

The rest were the parliamentary candidate for Obuasi East in the 2024 election, Samuel Aboagye, who was also the Deputy Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO); Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala; Flying Officer Manaen Twum-Ampadu and Sergeant Ernest Addo-Mensah. 

Tie back

The Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) PLC has indicated that it is considering setting up an Endowment Fund for the children of the crash victims as a measure of support for the surviving dependents.

The Managing Director of the bank, Edward Ato Sarpong, who led a delegation from the bank to lay a wreath in memory of the eight patriots, said those who lost their lives were well-meaning patriots who would have done the same thing for others.

The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) said it had also started reviewing its records to ensure that all eligible dependants receive their due benefits.

Addressing what support could be available for the bereaved families after laying a wreath in the memory of Ghana’s eight fallen patriots, the Director-General of the Trust, Kwesi Afreh Biney, said SSNIT had begun reviews to ensure that every benefit would be paid to beneficiaries with dispatch.

“Parliamentarians are part of our active members, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) is one of our subvented organisations, and ministers are part of our Controller group.

“We have a responsibility as a trust to ensure we follow the right processes and pass on the benefits to those they have left behind,” Mr Biney said.

He was addressing journalists when the management and staff of SSNIT laid flowers in memory of eight distinguished Ghanaians who lost their lives in a helicopter crash last Wednesday.

The Assemblies of God, Ghana said the circumstance of their deaths was heart-breaking, soul-wrenching and earth- shaking, adding that the tragedy reminded all of the fragility of man and the brevity of life.

Condoling with the families, the Presidency and the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), the Assemblies of God, Ghana called on them to take consolation in the holy books of Psalm 147:3 which states, “Lord heals the broken hearted, and binds up their wound”.

“Assemblies of God, Ghana hopes that the semblance of national unity orchestrated by this tragedy will continually bind us together, irrespective of our political differences, social class, age bracket, ethnic origins and religious beliefs.

“In addition, may their souls rest in perfect peace,” the statement added.