The family of Squadron Leader Peter Afemi Anala, one of the eight victims of last week’s tragic military helicopter crash, says they appreciate the immense emotional weight on President John Mahama as the nation grieves.
Speaking during a condolence visit by a government delegation to the family’s home at Jisonayili in Sagnarigu, Squadron Leader Anala’s sister reflected on the president’s loss.
“We understand the pressure on the president. Even as we are mourning an individual, he is mourning eight people,” Sophia Ayarik said, acknowledging the national scale of the tragedy.
“So we understand the stress he is going through. But if he has been thoughtful enough to send you to come and commiserate with us, we are grateful.”
The late Squadron Leader Anala was part of the Ghana Air Force crew transporting senior government officials to Obuasi for the launch of the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) when the helicopter went down in Brofoyedru Sikaman in the Ashanti Region.
She thanked God for “giving us an illustrious son, an illustrious brother, and an illustrious husband such as Peter.”
The crash also claimed the lives of Defence Minister Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Muniru Mohammed, NDC Vice Chair Dr. Samuel Sarpong, former NDC parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye, and two other Air Force personnel.
The government has announced that all victims will be accorded state funerals, as investigations continue into the cause of the disaster.
Source: Kenneth Awotwe Darko
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