Ghana’s Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment, Science and Technology Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, were killed along other senior officials and Air Force crew members, the government announced on Wednesday.
The crash, which occurred during a military flight, has been described as a national tragedy by the government.
The incident occurred when the Ghanaian Air Force helicopter, went off radar shortly after taking off from Accra, headed towards Obuasi in the Ashanti region.
The helicopter crashed in a heavily forested area in the Adansi Akrofuom district of the Ashanti region.
All eight persons on board were killed, including Edward Boamah, Defence Minister.
The helicopter was reportedly en route to an event focused on addressing the issue of illegal mining, a major environmental concern in Ghana.
Addressing the press, President John Mahama’s Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, said, “The president and government extend our condolences and sympathies to the families of our comrades and the servicemen who died in service to the country.”
Authorities have not yet released details on what caused the fatal crash, though the military confirmed earlier that radar contact had been lost with the Z9 Air Force helicopter prior to the incident.
Boamah, who previously served as Communications Minister, was appointed Defence Minister in January following Mahama’s return to office.
His tenure was marked by growing security challenges, including the rising threat of extremist groups from the Sahel region.
Ghana, like other coastal West African nations, has faced increasing security pressures as Islamist militants from Burkina Faso and Mali continue to push south.
Internally, tensions over chieftaincy in Ghana’s northeast have also led to recent outbreaks of violence, including attacks on schools.
Boamah’s untimely death leaves a significant gap in the country’s defence leadership at a time when Ghana’s security landscape is growing more complex.
Government flags have been lowered to half-mast as the nation mourns the loss of the fallen officials.
President John Mahama extended condolences to the families of the victims and suspended all official activities for the day.
The Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah conveyed the government’s deep sorrow and announced that all national flags would be flown at half-mast in honour of the victims.
“The president and government extend our condolences and sympathies to the families of our comrades and the servicemen who died in service to the country,” Debrah said
Boamah was leading the defence ministry amid growing regional instability, particularly with jihadist activity increasing in neighbouring Burkina Faso.
A medical doctor by training, Boamah’s career in government included stints as communications minister during Mahama’s previous 2012-2017 tenure. Before that, he was the deputy minister for environment.
Mahama was “down, down emotionally”, Haruna Iddrisu, Ghana’s education minister, told reporters outside the presidency after news broke of the crash.
