President John Dramani Mahama has confirmed receipt of the forensic reports on all eight victims of the Wednesday, August 6, 2025, helicopter crash at Adansi Akrofuom in the Ashanti Region.
The President, speaking at the burial of two of the victims — Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and MP for Tamale Central, and Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator — disclosed that the reports had been delivered to his outfit electronically, paving way for the burial of the two Muslims amongst the victims.
DNA samples had been sent to South Africa for analysis due to the severely charred condition of the bodies.
“Happily, that process was concluded yesterday [August 9]. We received the forensic results for our brothers [Murtala and Alhaji Muniru], and that is why we have come to bury them ahead. As I speak, the forensic reports for the rest have also arrived.
“In consultation with the families, we will decide how their funerals will be held. But, as we have said, on August 15 we will hold a state funeral for all of them,” the President announced Sunday, August 10, 2025.
During the burial rites for the two, President Mahama 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.
He 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 are able to 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.
Helicopter crash: Ghana pays last respect to Murtala Mohammed, Alhaji Muniru
