Ghana is in mourning following the deaths of eight people in a helicopter crash, including two senior government ministers. The aircraft went down in the Ashanti region on Wednesday morning, shortly after departing from the capital, Accra.
Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed were confirmed among the victims, according to a statement by Julius Debrah, chief of staff to President John Mahama.
The crash also claimed the lives of Alhaji Mohammad Muniru Limuna, a former agriculture minister and deputy national security coordinator, and Samuel Sarpong, vice chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress party.
“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 Debrah.
The Ghana Armed Forces said the air force helicopter lost contact with radar shortly after 9:00am local time. It was en route to Obuasi, a gold-mining town northwest of Accra, when it disappeared.
Boamah, a medical doctor by training, had been leading the defence ministry at a time of growing insecurity across Ghana’s northern border with Burkina Faso.
Despite Ghana largely avoiding the rebel insurgencies that have destabilised neighbouring countries like Togo and Benin, concerns have grown about arms trafficking and cross-border movements by fighters.
Earlier this year, Boamah led a diplomatic mission to Burkina Faso as part of Ghana’s engagement with the military-led governments of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso — nations that have distanced themselves from the ECOWAS regional bloc.
Boamah was also preparing to release a book reflecting on the leadership of former President John Atta Mills, titled A Peaceful Man in an African Democracy.
The government has pledged a full investigation into the crash and is coordinating recovery and memorial efforts.
Written By Joyce Nzomo
