Ghana Life Insurance Company Limited has presented a cheque for GHC1, 400 to the beneficiary of a fallen hero and policyholder, L/Cpl. Castro Abuchow, who met his untimely death during at the recent Allied Airline Cargo plane crash. The short ceremony which was held at the premises of the 48 Engineers Regiment, Teshie, was attended by high hierarchy of the unit and management of Ghana Life Insurance led by the Managing Director, Mr. Ivan Avereyireh. Presenting the cheque to Bismark Abuchow, the junior brother of the victim, Mr. Ivan Avereyireh said, “We, at Ghana Life took the news of L/Cpl. Castro Abuchow’s demise on the 2nd June, 2012 in the national disaster of the Allied Airlines Cargo plane crash with a feeling of bitter sweet”. “Bitter, because the country has lost a budding and courageous solder in this tragic accident. Sweet, because this young and forward looking man knew that his life was not entirely under his control. Therefore, while under training he took out a Ghana Life six year Master Plan Policy on 1st June, 2011, and made his junior brother, Bismark Abuchow, the beneficiary”, Mr. Avereyireh added. The Ghana Life boss continued that, “what this meant was that if he lived until the Policy’s maturity in 2017, Ghana Life would pay him the sum assured plus profits, but in the unlikely event that he died before June, 2017, as it sadly occurred some weeks ago, his beneficiary should be paid the sum assured, in this case GHC1, 400. Meanwhile, the total premium he contributed before his untimely passing away was only GHC261.95. That is foresight, that is visionary, and that is exemplary”. Mr. Avereyireh concluded that the payment does not prevent the family of the late Castro from pursuing claims against the owners of the Allied Airlines Cargo plane. “They should go after them to seek compensation.” The uncle of the deceased, Lt. Col. Buntuguh, who spoke on behalf of the family, expressed their profound gratitude to Ghana Life for their prompt payment of the claims and assured the gathering that the purpose of the policy by the policyholder will be put to good use. In fact, the late Abuchow was the one who was caring for the education of his brother, so it came to them with no surprise that he undertook such a brilliant policy to support his brother’s education. The Commanding Officer of the 48 Engineers Regiment, Lt/Col. M. Mustapha also commended Ghana Life Insurance for their quick response to payment of claims and also urged all officers to take up a policy that will provide similar support to their beneficiaries. Ghana Life has paid a total of GHC1, 395,270 claims for the first half of 2012. Similarly, in 2011, total claims paid amounted to GHC3, 710,000. By the end of 2012, Ghana Life will be able to give SMS alerts to their policyholders when payments are received in their various accounts.