The remains of the two Muslim faithful who were among the eight patriots who lost their lives in last Wednesday’s helicopter crash have been laid to rest at the Military Cemetery, La, in Accra.
This was after a short state ceremony at the forecourt of the State House, which was attended by representatives of many segments of the Ghanaian society.
Before the burial, the government received confirmation of their identities based on the expeditious forensic examinations in South Africa.
A solemn Islamic janaaza prayer was held at about 2:05 p.m. at the forecourt of the State House in Accra yesterday for the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Alhaji Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, who was also the Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, and the late acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna.
The two dignitaries and six others tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash last Wednesday when they were on their way to a national assignment.
The emotional prayer session, led by the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, drew hundreds of mourners, including grieving family members, government officials, politicians and sympathisers.
The janaaza prayer, a brief yet profound Islamic funeral rite performed in under five minutes, sought divine mercy and forgiveness for the departed souls.
Before the prayer, Muslim clerics asked whether the deceased had grudges with anyone or owed anybody. Businessman and philanthropist, Ibrahim Mahama, offered to pay such debt if it were.
The ceremony was graced by many high-profile figures, including President John Dramani Mahama, the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, and the acting Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonney.
Also in attendance were the wives of the deceased, the Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, a former Chief of Staff, Kwadwo Mpiani, and a former Minister of Finance, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, who is a close friend of the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology.
The Chairman of the Council of Elders, National Democratic Congress (NDC), Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, and prominent members of the NDC, including Ato Ahwoi, were among other notable personalities who paid their last respects.
There was a large group of Muslims who gathered for the prayer.
At the state burial ceremony, men from various units of the Ghana Armed Forces formed at the venue, with two pallbearer parties immaculately dressed in their ceremonial red uniform with a touch of golden yellow.
After the prayer, the funeral procession, led by GAF, proceeded to the Military Cemetery at Burma Camp, where the bodies were laid to rest following Islamic tradition.
Aside from designated officials, Members of Parliament, and NDC party members, the procession was joined by a large number of Muslims and members of the public, forming a long retinue from the State House to the Military Cemetery at La, adjacent to the airport.
During the interment, the Principal Imam of the Ghana Police Mosque, Superintendent of Police (SP) Imam Hussein, delivered a sermon which urged the living to lead righteous lives so that they might be remembered with honour after their passing.
He consoled the bereaved in the Islamic belief that those who died in tragic circumstances, such as drowning, earthquakes or fire, were granted paradise if they remained steadfast in faith.
With heartfelt conviction, Imam Hussein prayed for Allah’s forgiveness and mercy upon the departed, expressing confidence that their devotion to Islam had secured their place in heaven.
President thanks nation, families
President Mahama, in a few words, urged the nation and families of the deceased to find solace in the Lord.
“Today is not a day for talking, I just want to thank you for your sympathies. The Qu‘ran teaches that he who attends the funeral of a departed friend and waits till the final prayers will receive more blessings,” he said.
President Mahama thanked the families of the victims for their patience during the tragic period.
“We want to thank the families for their patience, as in Islam, when a person dies, the person must be buried immediately, but due to the conditions the bodies were in, we were unable to identify them.
“So yesterday we received electronically the forensic details of the two, and that is why we can do this today,” President Mahama explained.
President Mahama added that Dr Muhammed and Ahaji Limuna were very close to him.
“They had personal relations with me, I mentored Murtala, and Muniru was an assistant to me. I sent him on errands,” he said.
Forensic results ready
Meanwhile, the remains of six of the eight individuals who lost their lives in last Wednesday’s tragic crash were brought to Accra yesterday from South Africa, where forensic examination was conducted on them.
The severe burning of the bodies in the accident had made visual identification impossible.
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, received the remains on behalf of the government at the airport and handed them over to the Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohonu, as the police were in charge of the forensic examination.
With the forensic examination complete and the victims identified, the final step before burial can now proceed.
