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Ghana is mourning the loss of two government ministers and six others following a tragic military helicopter crash in the Ashanti Region, a government spokesperson has confirmed.
At a press conference, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah announced that Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, aged 50, were among those who perished in what he described as a “national tragedy.”
According to the Ghana Armed Forces, the helicopter—carrying five passengers and three crew members—went off radar shortly after takeoff from Accra at 9:12 a.m. local time. The aircraft was en route to Obuasi, a gold-mining town, for a national event when the crash occurred.
The cause of the accident has not yet been determined.
In response to the tragedy, the Chief of Staff has directed that flags across the country be flown at half-mast in honor of the deceased. On behalf of President John Dramani Mahama and the government, he extended condolences to the bereaved families and paid tribute to the servicemen who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Among the other victims were Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, Ghana’s Deputy National Security Coordinator and former Minister of Agriculture, and Samuel Sarpong, Vice-Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The crew members who died in the crash have been identified as Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
The government has pledged a full investigation into the incident.
Source:Omanghana.com
