In Ghana, two government ministers are killed in a helicopter crash
Ghana’s Minister of Defence, Dr. Omane Boamah, and Minister of Environment, Murtala Mohammed, along with six others including three crew members, died in a helicopter crash that occurred Wednesday morning in the Ashanti Region, according to the Chief of Staff.
Chief of Staff Julius Debrah stated during a press conference that Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Minister of Environment, Science and Technology Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, aged 50, were killed in the crash, which he described as a “national tragedy.”
Earlier, the Ghana Armed Forces had announced that the aircraft, which was carrying three crew members and five passengers, had “disappeared from radar” on Wednesday morning.
The Z9 military helicopter had taken off from the capital, Accra, at 9 a.m. local time (GMT) and was heading to the mining town of Obuasi for a national event.
Emergency response teams were deployed to locate the aircraft. Last year, a military helicopter crashed in the Western Region, but there were no casualties.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the crash. Addressing the nation, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah ordered flags to be flown at half-mast.
He extended condolences on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama and the government to the “soldiers who died serving their country.”
Among the victims were Deputy National Security Coordinator and former Minister of Agriculture Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, as well as Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress.
The crew members were identified as Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flight Lieutenant Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
