Burial of Murtala Muhammad and Alhaji Limuna delayed pending autopsy and investigation
The burial of Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed and Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Limuna has been delayed, as religious leaders and state officials await autopsy results and investigative clearance before proceeding with Islamic funeral rites.
The two were among eight people who died when a military helicopter crashed at Adansi-Brofoyedu in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region on Wednesday.
The group was on a national assignment to Obuasi when the disaster occurred.
On board the flight were the Minister for Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, and the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Alhaji Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed.
Others included the acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Muniru Mohammed; a National Vice-Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Sarpong; former parliamentary candidate in the 2024 elections, Samuel Aboagye; Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, the pilot; Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu, the co-pilot; and Sergeant Ernest Addo-Mensah, a crew member.
Although Islamic tradition encourages burial within 24 hours of death, the Deputy Minister for Roads and Member of Parliament for Tamale North, Alhassan Suhuyini, has said the faith allows for flexibility in specific circumstances.
Speaking in a radio interview with Joy FM on Thursday [August 7, 2025] Mr Suhuyini said, “Burial is what is encouraged to be done within 24 hours… but Islam is a very flexible religion. Even where we are not permitted to eat pork or eat during fasting, if you forget and eat… you have committed no sin.”
He added that depending on the Islamic sect, funeral rites may be held on the seventh, thirtieth or even fortieth day after death.
“Under the circumstances, I am very confident that our clerics… will find a scripture that will console the families, loved ones, and sympathisers to await the very necessary investigation to determine the cause,” Mr Suhuyini said. “It would be worse to perform Islamic rituals on a body that is not an Islamic body.”
The Presidency has confirmed that a task force has been established to look into the incident. A national planning committee has also been formed to work with the bereaved families to coordinate funeral arrangements and memorial services.
The Deputy Presidential Spokesperson, Ms Shamima Muslim, said consultations were ongoing with the families and that both religious obligations and state protocols were being observed.
Following the national tragedy, President John Dramani Mahama has suspended all his scheduled activities and programmes for the rest of the week. A three-day national mourning period has also been declared.
