President John Dramani Mahama has led a ceremony at Jubilee House to honor the nation’s pledge to the families of the seven public officials and military personnel who lost their lives in the August 5, 2025 helicopter crash.
The event saw the presentation of comprehensive compensation packages, state-backed educational support, lifetime healthcare access, and the establishment of dedicated GH¢1 million trust funds for each child of the victims.
In attendance were key state officials and dignitaries, including Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, and Senior Government Advisor on Political Affairs Dr. Valerie Sawyerr, alongside the grieving families of the seven fallen men.
Compensation, Scholarships, and Healthcare Coverage
President Mahama announced that the High Court, acting under the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1963 (Act 174), awarded a compensation package totaling GH¢1.87 million to the dependents of the four civilian officials. Separate compensation packages for military personnel involved in the crash were processed under Armed Forces Regulations.
In addition to financial compensation, the government announced two long-term social safety initiatives for all affected families:
Comprehensive Healthcare: Every dependent family member has been enrolled onto the Premier Plan of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). The scheme guarantees an annual healthcare value of GH¢3 million across all dependents, granting seamless access to 942 accredited medical facilities nationwide.
GETFund Scholarships: Educational scholarships through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) have been secured for all eligible school-age children for the 2025/2026 academic year and beyond.
GH¢1 Million Trust Account Established for Each Child
To secure the financial future of the victims' offspring, the government established the Children’s Support Fund, held in professionally managed trust accounts at Stanbic Bank Ghana.
The government deposited GH¢1 million into a trust account for each child of the fallen heroes. Fixed deposit accounts containing GH¢1 million each were also created for the five adult children of the late Dr. Sarpong and the eldest daughter of the late Alhaji Muniru Limuna.
The fund was mobilized following a national call for donations launched on August 15, 2025. Between mid-August and late October 2025, public sector institutions, private corporate entities, and individual citizens donated a total of GH₵10.16 million and $20,000. The government added GH¢8.46 million to top up the fund.
A dedicated committee chaired by Chief of Staff Dr. Julius Debrah, with Dr. Valerie Sawyerr as coordinator, oversaw the resource mobilization drive and managed the transparent distribution of the funds.
"Ghana Remains Grateful"
Addressing the families, President Mahama acknowledged that no financial sum could ever fill the void left by their loss, but reaffirmed the nation's permanent commitment to their welfare.
"I hope today's ceremony reassures you that your nation, Ghana, the nation that they served, remains grateful, remembers their sacrifice, and will continue to stand in solidarity with you," President Mahama stated. "At the state funeral on August 15, 2025, I assured you that you would not walk this difficult journey alone. Today, we honor that pledge."
The President also extended gratitude to the dozens of corporate organizations, public sector agencies, and individual citizens whose donations helped transform national grief into enduring support for the bereaved families.
