President John Dramani Mahama delivered a deeply personal tribute at the burial of Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, and Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, describing the two as “brothers” whose loss has left him profoundly shaken.
Speaking at the military cemetery where the two were laid to rest on Saturday, August 10, President Mahama recalled his close relationships with both men.
“Murtala I mentored from when he was a new MP… he was one of our brightest intellectuals, very eloquent in Parliament, and part of our research agenda,” Mahama said. “Muniru was like a younger brother. He was a permanent fixture in my house and acted almost like my personal assistant.”
The President described their passing as “a very deep personal loss,” but expressed faith that, as devout Muslims, they would be welcomed into Jannatul Firdaus. He thanked the Imams for their prayers, noting that in Islam, once a person has passed, “the only thing useful to them is prayers.”
Mahama also acknowledged the families for agreeing to his decision to bury the two men in the military cemetery, assuring them that it was “a conducive resting place” where they could visit freely.
Fighting back emotion, the President admitted it was difficult to find the right words on such a sorrowful day. He urged that their memory inspire continued dedication to serving Ghana, ensuring that “their names will be written in gold in paradise.”
The burial was part of the mourning period for the eight victims of the August 6 military helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom District, with a state funeral for all scheduled on August 15, 2025.
