Ghana is mourning the loss of two senior government officials following a military helicopter crash that killed all eight people on board in the Ashanti region on Wednesday. Ghana Defense and Environment Ministers, Edward Omane Boamah and Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed were confirmed among the deceased, according to Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff to the Ghanaian President.
The Z9 military helicopter, operated by the Ghana Armed Forces, lost contact while en route from the capital, Accra, to the southern mining town of Obuasi. The crash site was later located in the Ashanti region, where emergency services confirmed no survivors.
Senior Officials Among Victims
In addition to Boamah and Mohammed, the helicopter carried three other prominent passengers: Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna, Ghana’s acting deputy national security coordinator; Samuel Sarpong, vice chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC); and Samuel Aboagye, a former parliamentary candidate.
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The Ghana Armed Forces identified the three crew members killed in the crash as Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Malin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
Nation in Mourning
In a televised statement, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah described the incident as a “national tragedy” and announced that flags across the country will fly at half-mast until further notice. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The Ghana Armed Forces have not yet released information regarding possible mechanical failure or weather-related complications, but an inquiry is expected to follow.
Political and Security Impact
The deaths of two key cabinet ministers represent a significant loss for the administration and the National Democratic Congress, which is preparing for upcoming elections. Defense Minister Boamah was a central figure in military modernization efforts, while Environment Minister Mohammed was actively involved in climate and anti-mining initiatives.
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The tragedy also underscores ongoing safety concerns related to aging military aircraft in sub-Saharan Africa. Analysts note that the Z9, a Chinese-built utility helicopter, has been in service across several African nations with mixed performance records.
As tributes pour in from across the political spectrum, Ghana faces a period of national grief amid calls for enhanced aviation safety protocols.
Javeria Sajid is an Aerospace Engineering student from NUST with a background in technology and a sharp focus on the global political landscape and defence innovation. She writes to make complex defence technologies understandable, and aspires to bridge journalism, policy, and engineering in her work.
