MIIF CEO Joins Thousands to Bid Farewell to 8 Patriots in Fatal Helicopter Crash

The Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Income Investment Fund (‘MIIF’ or ‘the Fund’), Mrs. Justina Nelson, on Friday, August 15, joined thousands of grief-stricken Ghanaians at the Independence Square, to bid final farewell to the eight departed patriots who perished in a deadly helicopter crash on August 6, 2025.

MIIF CEO, Mrs. Justina Nelson (middle), seated among other dignitaries at the Burial Service.

The solemn gathering, led by President John Dramani Mahama and his government, bore witness to the effect of the tragedy on Ghana’s leadership.

The fallen heroes were:

– Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence, a medical doctor whose dedication to public service had taken him from the corridors of the London School of Economics to the highest echelons of government. He is also revered as an astute political strategist

-Dr. Alhaji Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and MP for Tamale Central, a father of three whose vision for environmental protection would remain forever unfinished.

– Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Limuna, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, the watchful protector who had dedicated his life to safeguarding Ghana’s national interests.

– Dr. Samuel Sarpong, Vice-Chair of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), whose political wisdom had guided many political campaigns and restored the party to power

– Mr. Samuel Aboagye, former Parliamentary Candidate, whose grassroots connections had bridged communities and government

– Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, the seasoned pilot whose steady hands had safely transported countless officials across Ghana’s skies

– Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, the dedicated co-pilot whose service record spoke of unwavering commitment to duty

– Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah, the aircrew member whose technical expertise had ensured mission success time and again.

In recognition of their dedicated service and heroics, President Mahama elevated all three servicemen post-humously

The helicopter had departed from Kotoka International Airport toward the gold-mining area for an event about tackling illegal mining, when it disappeared from radar and crashed into a forested mountainside in the Ashanti region.

Mrs. Justina Nelson exchanging pleasantries with a guest at the Burial Service.

The presence of the MIIF team led by Mrs Nelson was a direct response that embodied the profound respect the Fund holds for public service.

Earlier in the week, Mrs. Nelson, alongside the Board Chairman of the Fund, Mr Richard Kwame Asante and other senior officers of MIIF, had laid a wreath at the forecourt of the Jubilee House, the seat of government, a testament to shared grief and solidarity.

The Fund’s tribute, published in the Daily Graphic on August 15, 2025, stood as more than mere words on paper but more like a covenant with the nation, a promise that the ideals these eight heroes died defending would live on.

As Mrs. Nelson stood in the sea of mourners at the Independence Square, the weight of MIIF’s mission felt more profound than ever.

The Fund’s commitment to maximizing revenues from Ghana’s mineral resources had always been intertwined with a deeper purpose, ensuring that the wealth beneath Ghana’s soil serves to build a better future for all Ghanaians.

The tragedy had reinforced a fundamental truth that this mission cannot be separated from the sacred duty of protecting the lives and wellbeing of those who serve the nation.

Mrs Nelson and the MIIF team’s presence at the funeral also reinforced the believe that the helicopter crash, one of the worst air disasters in the country in over a decade, had created a void in Ghana’s leadership that would be felt for years to come.