Ghana's parliamentary friendship association-Iran commiserates with people of Iran on demise of president, other top officials

The Parliamentary Friendship Association - Iran of the Parliament of Ghana has shared an official message of condolence with the people of the Islamic Republic of Iran following Sunday's tragic plane crash.

The helicopter wreckage left the 63-year-old president of Iran, Seyed Dr. Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Amirabdollahian, and other top officials dead after an hourslong search through a foggy, mountainous region in the country’s northwest.

Though the cause of the plane crash is not immediately known, Turkish authorities early Monday released what they described as drone footage showing what appeared to be a fire in the wilderness that they suspected could have caused the crash.

In a signed message of condolence on behalf of the people of Ghana, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Friendship Association-Iran and Member of Parliament for the Bole-Bamboi Constituency, hon Yussif Sulemana (Ori) described the turn of events as tragic and regrettable, expressing grief to the people of Iran, Ambassador Bijan Gerami and the members of the Iranian Embassy in Accra as they mourn this great loss.

He was confident that the people of Iran will muster all the strength and through the help of almighty Allah, overcome the current trying times sooner than later, assuring of the fullest support of the Parliament and people of Ghana for victims and families of the tragedy.

The Member of Parliament used the occasion to call on all international bodies and all well-meaning individuals to come to the aid of the people of Iran with assistance in these trying times of the country's democracy.

He urged the acting president, Mohammed Mokhber to work within the constitution of Iran to ensure peaceful elections and subsequent transfer of power.

According to the state-run IRNA news agency reports,the acting president and other leaders, including the head of the judiciary and parliament speaker agreed to hold a presidential election on 28th June, 2024.

The decision is however, yet to be approved by the Guardian Council, according to Iran's constitution, which says a new election should be called within 50 days.

Meanwhile, Iran state television says all government offices and private businesses in the country will be closed on Wednesday to coincide with the funerals of crash victims.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will pray for the dead on Wednesday.

The burial of President Ebrahim Raisi will take place on Thursday in Mashhad, where he was born.