The helicopter crash of August 6 has left an indelible mark on the hearts of many, but none feel the loss more deeply than the family of Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, the late Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation and Member of Parliament for Tamale Central.
During a solemn farewell ceremony on August 15, 2025, at the Black Star Square, honoring all eight victims of the crash, the siblings of Dr. Murtala Mohammed paid an emotional tribute, noting that capturing the full essence of such an extraordinary man in a single eulogy was an almost impossible task.
They reflected that one could not possibly “bring to the table in one tribute all there is to a man like this, a brother like that, a loving father like Dr. Murtala Muhammad.”
The family revealed that grief has consumed them, and for some, the pain will be a lifelong companion. For them, prayer is the only way forward—a way to both cope and honour the man they loved.
“While we grieve, we pray. And while we pray, we immortalize his presence in our hearts. Because that is the only way we can appreciate and pay back the immense love he showed us. From now on, that’s how we manifest our love and loyalty to him.”
Family of Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed
They expressed the strength drawn from their Islamic faith, accepting that divine will is beyond human control.
“As a family, we have to be strong, because there is no other way; and we are patient, for there is no other choice. Allah’s ways are not our ways. While we love him, Allah loves him more. So, he gave him a good demise; however, horrified we feel about it.”
Family of Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed
The family found comfort in the thought that Dr. Murtala passed away in service to the nation and its people. In their words, he was “fighting a jihad in the true sense of the word, so that tomorrow would be better.”
A Life Devoted to Service
On a personal note, one sibling shared a poignant feeling—an expectation that they might depart this world before him. Perhaps it was a wish, they said, or perhaps a belief that his strength and character were more suited to a world that often overlooked meekness.
Dr. Murtala’s passion for serving the public was evident in every chapter of his life, from his days as an educator to his role in politics.
Friends and adversaries alike have shared their memories, providing what the family described as the most authentic testimony of his character—one that surpasses even the most eloquently written tributes.
They recalled a recent online remark that captured his spirit: “Comrade Murtala was a formidable opponent. He was well researched.” To the family, such honest and heartfelt reflections are a lasting monument to his life.
They hope these words, along with the countless prayers offered, will serve as a foundation for keeping his memory alive.
His decision to enter politics, they noted, was driven by selflessness and a deep commitment to service. Politics, for him, was the most effective vehicle to achieve change, and he remained steadfastly loyal to that vehicle—the Great NDC party.
Even as he navigated public responsibilities, he valued and balanced his role as a family man, giving each sphere of his life the attention it deserved.
Dr. Murtala, A Stalwart Remembered
In bidding farewell, the family described Dr. Murtala as the hinge on which their household turned, a key figure in the NDC both regionally and nationally, and a symbol of integrity and honesty in Ghanaian politics.
They chose to end their tribute with two stanzas titled IF WE CRY, reflecting the depth of their loss:
“If we cry, we don’t because his demise happened. If we cry, we do because it happened now. If we cry, it is not because Allah fulfilled his divine decree upon his life; If we cry, it is a reminder that we are human. If we cry, let that remind you of the fragility of men. We cry; it is a testament that we are emotional beings. If we cry, that means our hearts aren’t clay. And if we cry, we cry because he had left so much to do undone. And if we cry, it is because he has beaten us to the first position in the final journey of life. So, let’s always pray for Mualim Dr. Murtala Muhammad.”
The family said they were certain Dr. Murtala would have offered the same prayers for any of them under similar circumstances. They closed with the words they believe he hears even now: “Rest In Peace, Bro.”
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