The Government has announced detailed arrangements for the state funeral of the victims of the military helicopter crash that occurred on 6 August. The ceremony will take place on Friday, 15 August, and will be led by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
At a press briefing held on Thursday morning, Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations, Mr Stan Dogbey, said the funeral will be conducted in three main phases, in keeping with military tradition and national mourning protocols.
“The service would largely be a military service. It will be conducted by the Ghana Armed Forces and there will be three parts to the funeral programme,” Mr Dogbey told reporters.
Ceremony Schedule
The pre-burial proceedings are scheduled to begin at 07:30 GMT and continue until 09:00 GMT. Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is expected to arrive at 08:50, followed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at 09:00, upon which the state service will commence.
The main service will last approximately three hours and will include the reading of biographies and tributes to the eight fallen officers. Tributes are expected from family members, including widows and children, as well as from senior government officials and representatives of institutions with which the deceased were affiliated.
Burial Arrangements
Following the state ceremony, the bodies of six of the victims — who are yet to be laid to rest — will be transported to the Military Cemetery at Tse Addo for interment. Mr Dogbey stated that the Ghana Armed Forces, in collaboration with the respective churches of the deceased, will oversee the burial rites at the cemetery.
Two of the victims, both Muslims — Environment Minister Dr Ibrahim Muhammed Murtala and former Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Muniru Limuna Mohammed — were buried earlier, on Sunday, 10 August, in accordance with Islamic customs. Their burial rites were held at the Forecourt of the State House.
Security and Logistics
With thousands expected to attend the funeral, significant logistical and security preparations have been put in place. Mr Dogbey said canopies will be labelled to direct mourners to designated seating areas, and movement within the inner perimeter of the grounds will be restricted.
“We expect a large turnout, so we have taken several steps to ensure a solemn and orderly ceremony,” he said. “We urge members of the public to arrive early and cooperate with protocol and security officials.”
Strict security measures will be enforced, with mourners required to alight at specific drop-off points before walking into the funeral grounds. Designated parking areas have also been arranged. Buses will be provided to transport bereaved families and select attendees from the funeral grounds to the cemetery, in a bid to ease traffic congestion.
Media Access
Media access to the funeral has also been limited. Only accredited journalists, specifically camera operators and photographers, will be allowed into the restricted inner perimeter.
“Reporters and other media personnel without accreditation will not be permitted in the special media zone,” Mr Dogbey confirmed.
The 6 August crash, which claimed the lives of eight military personnel, has been met with widespread national grief. Friday’s funeral will mark the culmination of official mourning, with the state set to honour the fallen officers for their service to the country.
