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Ghana is in mourning after a military helicopter crash claimed the lives of Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, and six others in the Ashanti Region.
The Z-9 military helicopter, carrying three crew members and five passengers, went down in a dense forest on its way from Accra to Obuasi for an event targeting illegal mining. All eight on board died in the crash, which President John Dramani Mahama’s Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, described as a “national tragedy.”
Their bodies, draped in the Ghanaian flag, were recovered and transported to Accra, where a solemn ceremony was held at the Air Force Base. Funeral arrangements are pending full identification of the remains, with initial plans to bury the Muslim victims on Thursday now postponed.
Unclear Cause, Foggy Weather Cited
Authorities have not yet confirmed what caused the crash, but the Ghana Armed Forces have launched an investigation. Ghana’s meteorological agency had forecast unusually cold and foggy weather this month, and local farmers near the crash site reported heavy morning mist at the time.
One eyewitness said that the helicopter was flying “unusually low” in poor visibility before hearing an explosion. “When I got there, there was no one to rescue,” he said.
This marks the deadliest incident involving Ghana’s Air Force in recent memory. It follows two recent emergency landings involving military helicopters in 2020 and 2024.
National Mourning Declared
President Mahama has suspended his activities for the rest of the week and declared three days of national mourning starting Thursday. Flags are being flown at half-mast across the country in honour of the victims.
Among the other victims were:
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Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, Deputy National Security Coordinator and former Agriculture Minister
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Samuel Sarpong, Vice-Chairman of the governing National Democratic Congress
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Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah, all Air Force personnel
President Mahama is said to be “deeply shaken” by the tragedy.
A Closer Look at the Ministers Lost
Edward Omane Boamah, who previously served as communications and environment minister, was playing a leading role in addressing rising jihadist threats along Ghana’s northern border. His upcoming book, A Peaceful Man in an African Democracy, was set to be published later this year.
Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, aged 50, was known for his fight against illegal gold mining, or Galamsey, which has devastated the environment and poisoned water sources across Ghana. His activism made him a key figure during Mahama’s recent campaign.
National Response
The crash has shocked the country, with many citizens expressing grief and outrage on social media. Environmental groups have also called for renewed attention to mining safety, while others stress the need to improve aviation oversight.
As investigations continue, Ghana faces the difficult task of not only mourning its fallen leaders but ensuring such tragedies do not happen again.
