The Greater Accra Regional Administration began the disbursement of the Stadium Disaster Fund with a call on bereaved families to come for their allocation of 2.5 million cedis per victim.
The disbursement is in accordance with government's directive that 2.5 million cedis be paid to the families of each victim of the stadium disaster towards the funeral.
Sheikh Ibrahim Codjoe Quaye, Regional Minister, started the disbursement by presenting a total of 10 million cedis to three families of the Muslim community who had already buried their dead.
Sheikh Quaye said the money is government's compensation to the bereaved families in respect of coffin, shroud and transportation of the dead and relations to the final resting-place of the victims.
He urged other bereaved families to delegate a representative each who would be expected to present the original death certificate or the coroner's report in addition to the filling out of a form for the collection of the money.
Sheikh Quaye called on the Muslim community to exercise restraint during this moment of national grief and stick to the tenets of their religion, which teaches that "death is never a misfortune, nor punishment for sins committed but rather whatever happens does so because Allah has ordained it."
"Accept whatever has happened in accordance with the Islamic teachings that God gave and God has takes away," he told the bereaved families.
Sheikh Quaye appealed to the bereaved families not to rush to the secretariat thinking that the money would be disbursed on a first come first served basis saying "there is enough money in respect of each victim."
The fund secretariat would be opened from 8 am till 5 PM each day. The regional Minister said government would be observing the bereaved families and where necessary additional assistance would be given later.
The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharabutu on behalf of the Muslim community thanked the government for the gesture.
He said by this action, the government has displayed love to the people.
