- A military helicopter crashed in Ghana’s Ashanti region on Wednesday morning.
- Eight people died, including two top ministers: Defence Minister Boamah and Environment Minister Murtala.
- Former Agriculture Minister and top NDC official also lost their lives.
- The aircraft had taken off from Accra heading to Obuasi but lost radar contact shortly after 9:00 am.
- Ghana Armed Forces and government have launched full investigations.
- The country is shaken, with condolences pouring in for the national heroes.
Ghana is in grief after a helicopter carrying government officials crashed in the Ashanti region. The military aircraft had left the capital, Accra, on Wednesday morning but lost contact with radar soon after. All eight people on board, including two Cabinet ministers, tragically died in the incident.
Those confirmed dead include Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed. Also killed were former Agriculture Minister Alhaji Mohammad Muniru Limuna, who also served as deputy national security coordinator, and Samuel Sarpong, a senior official of the ruling NDC party.
Julius Debrah, the Chief of Staff, delivered the sad news on behalf of President John Mahama, offering condolences and support to the families affected.
“The president and the government extend their condolences and solidarity to the families of our comrades and soldiers who fell in their service to the nation,” said Julius Debrah.
The Ghana Armed Forces reported that the helicopter vanished from radar shortly after 9:00 am while on its way to Obuasi, a key gold-mining town northwest of Accra. Investigations have already begun to determine what caused the fatal crash.
Minister Boamah had been leading Ghana’s defence efforts amid rising regional instability, particularly along the northern border with Burkina Faso. Although Ghana has remained relatively peaceful compared to neighbours like Togo and Benin, officials have raised alarms over arms trafficking and militant movements across borders.
Earlier in the year, Boamah had led a diplomatic team to Burkina Faso to discuss cooperation with Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso countries currently under military leadership and estranged from ECOWAS.
At the time of his death, Boamah was finalising a book titled A Peaceful Man in an African Democracy, a tribute to former President John Atta Mills. His passing leaves a gap in both government leadership and Ghana’s efforts toward regional peace.
The government has promised a full probe into the crash and has started recovery and memorial efforts. Ghanaians across the country are mourning, as tributes continue to pour in for the departed leaders.
