A tragic helicopter crash in Ghana has claimed the lives of eight people, including two senior government ministers. Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed were among those killed when a Z9 military helicopter went down in a dense forest in the Ashanti region.
The helicopter was flying from the capital, Accra, to Obuasi for an event aimed at tackling illegal gold mining, known locally as Galamsey.
All eight bodies were recovered from the crash site and transported to Accra in coffins wrapped in Ghana’s national flag. A respectful ceremony was held at the Air Force Base to receive the fallen.
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The government initially planned to bury the Muslim victims on Thursday, but the funerals have been delayed for proper identification. The cause of the crash is still unknown, and the Ghanaian military has launched an investigation.
President John Dramani Mahama has declared three days of national mourning and suspended all public activities. Flags across the country are flying at half-mast.
The victims also include Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Muniru Mohammed and NDC Vice Chairman Samuel Sarpong, along with three Air Force crew members: Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
Boamah had been involved in national security efforts in northern Ghana, where jihadist threats were rising. He was also set to publish a book later this year. Muhammed was leading the charge against illegal mining, which has severely damaged Ghana’s environment.
Social media has been flooded with images claiming to show the helicopter wreckage, and Ghanaians are in mourning as the nation processes this unexpected loss.
This incident is a national tragedy that touches multiple layers of Ghana’s political, environmental, and security fabric. Both ministers played key roles in tackling some of Ghana’s most pressing issues Boamah in defense and counterterrorism, and Muhammed in environmental reform.
