Andrew Achampong- Kyei (R) presenting a dummy cheque to Shamima Muslim
GLICO Group, one of the country’s leading insurance companies, has donated GH¢2 million to support the families of eight individuals, including two Ministers of State, who lost their lives in the helicopter crash on August 6.
The cheque presentation took place at the GLICO head office in Accra. Managing Director of GLICO General Insurance, Andrew Achampong-Kyei, explained that while the two Ministers had been covered under a personal accident policy with GLICO, the company decided to extend the benefit to all the bereaved families and the Ghana Armed Forces.
He further disclosed that GH¢100,000 of the donation would go to the President’s Children’s Trust Fund, with the remainder allocated to the victims’ families and the Armed Forces. According to him, the gesture, undertaken as part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), was aimed at providing relief and stability to those affected by the tragedy.
Government officials, representatives of the Ghana Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, the Office of the President, and the Group Chief Executive of GLICO, Edward Forkuo Kyei, were among those present at the ceremony.
Mr. Achampong-Kyei used the occasion to highlight the importance of insurance coverage in Ghana, warning against treating it as optional or selective.
“We cannot as a people allow insurance to remain optional, partial, or selective. Preparedness must become the standard, not the exception,” he said.
He revealed that GLICO had extended its personal accident policy to some Ministers of State as a pilot initiative but admitted the scheme could not cover all officials.
He therefore called on government, ministries, departments, and agencies to adopt comprehensive insurance policies to protect public servants, state assets, and institutions.
“This cannot only be achieved through technical arrangements but requires political will, enforcement, and commitment to ensure that laws on insurance are not ignored,” he stressed.
He also urged insurers to innovate and make protection more affordable and accessible.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson, Shamima Muslim, who spoke on behalf of the government and the affected families, thanked GLICO for its generosity.
She praised the company for also contributing to the President’s Children’s Trust Fund and appealed to other corporate organisations and individuals to support the welfare of the victims’ children.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah