“His Memory Will Forever Be a Treasure” – Wife of Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed Pays Emotional Tribute at State Funeral

By Joylinda Laryea / 15 August, 2025

With a voice filled with grief and reverence, Hadiatu Mohammed, wife of the late Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, delivered a deeply moving tribute to her husband during the state funeral held in honour of the victims of the August 6 military helicopter crash.

Opening her tribute with a prayer, she said:

“In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful… ‘To Allah we belong, and to Him is our return.’ Today, we gather with heavy hearts to honour the life of a man whose presence was a gift to all who knew him — my beloved husband, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed.”

Describing him as a loving family man, a devout Muslim, and a selfless public servant, she said her husband’s life was a blessing to many.

“Mohammed’s life was a blessing to us, and his memory will forever be a treasure… His love, laughter, and example will live on in our children and in the countless lives he touched.”

Reflecting on nearly a decade of marriage, she described Dr. Mohammed as kind, humble, dependable, and a man of unwavering integrity.

“He lived his life with integrity, always choosing the right path, even when it wasn’t the easiest.”

She recalled a humorous but telling moment when she called her husband during a roadside incident. Expecting him to rush to her aid, he calmly replied, “Ah… my dear, the President has called me.”

“In that moment, I realised I wasn’t just sharing my husband with friends, family, or the community. I was sharing him with the President of Ghana as well.”

She spoke fondly of his role as a father, recalling how he allowed the children to playfully comb his bald head and how he would play “horse” around the house with them.

“These were the moments I smiled because then he was not wearing the hat of a Minister of State, but that of a dad.”

Hadiatu ended her tribute with a prayer:

“Rest well, my husband. May Allah grant you Jannatul Firdaus and surround you with eternal peace. We love you, we miss you, and we will carry your light with us always. Inshah Allah.”

Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, who served as Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, was among eight persons who perished when a Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter crashed at Adansi Akrofuom in the Ashanti Region. The victims were en route to Obuasi for the launch of the Responsible Community and Cooperative Mining Programme.

A solemn state funeral was held on Friday, August 15, drawing national leaders, military officers, and grieving families to honour the fallen.