The Spokesperson to the Chief Imam, Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu, has provided an explanation for the suspension of burial, in accordance with Islamic tradition and customs, for the two Muslims among the eight individuals who tragically died in the fatal helicopter crash.
Speaking on JoyNews on Friday, August 8, 2025, Shaibu justified the suspension, explaining that the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the two individuals, specifically, the explosion caused by the impact of the crash, which charred their bodies, made it nearly impossible to determine their identities.
He said that, to avoid a case of mistaken identity, they decided to allow experts to determine the identities of the deceased victims in order to link them to their rightful families.
“… In this particular case, we will look at the circumstance under which these two Muslims died, the state of the body, and what is required in order to be able to establish the true and authentic identity of the two so, that we don’t do what we call mistaken identity and give one particular body to a different family to which it does not belong. So, it makes sense that while we apply the Islamic rule of flexibility, which in Islam, there’s a principle, that is necessity can make what is prohibited permissible,” he said.
Shaibu further shared; “Under certain circumstance, what is not permissible can become permissible and Islamic ruling in jurisprudence can allow that. On that basis, we can understand and allow the suspension of the burial and then allow the scientists or those experts to do their duty in determining the true identity of those who have passed so, that we can link them up with their families. If we don’t do that, we might replace or mistakenly give the body to a family to which the deceased does not belong to. I think it would not be fair to anyone to suffer such a thing.”
The eight perished victims were en route to Obuasi for an event attendance when the fatal crash happened.
The names of the perished are: Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Minister of Defence; Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology; Limuna Muniru, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the NDC; Samuel Aboagye, NADMO Deputy Director-General.
Also confirmed are the deaths of 3 Airforce officers, namely Squadron Leader Peter Anala (the pilot); Flying Officer Twum Ampadu; and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
