President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to establish a special fund to support the education and welfare of children whose parents died in last week’s tragic helicopter crash.
The initiative, he said, would ensure that the loss of their parents does not disrupt their education or future prospects.
The President made the announcement during the funeral rites of the late Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna, held earlier today, August 12 2025.
Alhaji Limuna, together with Hon. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed and other victims, perished in the crash while on official duty. The two Muslim victims were buried on Sunday, August 10, 2025, in accordance with Islamic customs.
The President underscored the calibre of individuals lost in the crash, noting that all were in the prime of their lives and bore significant responsibilities both professionally and personally.
“Children are still in school, and some even with infants as young as two months; the pilot has a child two months old,” he said. These personal circumstances, he stressed, reinforced the government’s responsibility to ensure the welfare of the bereaved families.
As part of the official arrangements, a state funeral will be held on Friday, August 15, for all the victims. President Mahama said that during the ceremony, the government would formally announce the details of the proposed fund, which would be open for public contributions.
“Persons who want to contribute to the future of the children they’ve left behind would have the opportunity to do so,” he assured. The President framed the tragedy within the context of the government’s “Reset Agenda,” saying that the best way to honour the memory of the deceased was to ensure the success of the policies and programmes they had championed.
“What we have to do is to work even harder in their memories, because all of them were key champions of the reset agenda that we are pursuing as a government. The reset agenda must be successful in their memory, so that their deaths would not have been in vain.”
HE President John Dramani Mahama
Tribute to the Late Muniru
In his tribute, President Mahama reflected on the personal and professional loss occasioned by the tragedy. He described Alhaji Limuna not just as a government appointee but as a trusted aide whose dedication and loyalty were unmatched.
“For me, I say, where am I going to get a replacement for him? Because he was virtually my personal assistant. You could call Muniru at 1 am in the night, and tell him, ‘Muniru, go to Yendi, or go to Damango.’ He won’t hesitate, he won’t wait till morning, he will set off that same night and go and perform the errand”.
HE President John Dramani Mahama
The President shared that Alhaji Limuna’s recent appointment as Deputy National Security Coordinator in charge of human security had come after much patience.
“When you are sharing food in the house, you serve the strangers first before you serve the family members. So, he should exercise patience,” he said, explaining why his long-time associate’s appointment came later than expected.
Barely two weeks into the role, Alhaji Limuna was sent to represent the National Security Secretariat at the Corporate, Responsible, and Cooperative Mining Program — his first official assignment.
According to the President, originally, the late Alhaji Limuna Muniru had planned to travel by road, as he was not fond of air travel, but late communication about the programme’s schedule led to a change of plans.
Learning there was space on a helicopter bound for the event, he boarded — unknowingly embarking on his final journey. “Like we say, God gives, and God takes. And so, we have no questions for God; we accept what He has done,” President Mahama said solemnly.
He also paid personal tribute to Alhaji Limuna’s devout Muslim faith, recalling that any time his calls went unanswered, he knew it was because Limuna was in the mosque.
“As soon as he comes out of the mosque, he calls me. And the first question I ask, ‘Have you finished praying?’ He said, ‘Oh yes, Mr. President.’ And so, I believe that Allah will have mercy on him, forgive him all his sins, and accept him.”
HE President John Dramani Mahama
Quoting the Quran’s reminder that all humans will ultimately return to their Creator, the President called on the bereaved families, colleagues, and the nation to find comfort in faith and in the resolve to carry forward the work of those lost. “Let’s all take heart, and may God bless the memory of our brother, Alhaji Limuna,” he concluded.
The announcement of the fund is expected to be met with public interest, as it not only addresses the immediate needs of the bereaved children but also offers an avenue for citizens to participate in securing their future.
By committing both state support and inviting public contributions, the government aims to turn a moment of profound loss into a sustained legacy of care and responsibility.
READ ALSO: Ghana’s Financial Sector Assets Soar to GH₵525bn in 2024 Despite Dip in GDP Share
