Eight Killed in Ghana Helicopter Crash

Ghana’s Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah; Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed and six others, have died in a military helicopter crash, a government spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday.

Earlier, the Ghana Armed Forces announced that an Air Force helicopter carrying three crew members and five passengers had gone missing from radar during a routine flight. Authorities have since located the crash site, and emergency responders are currently on the ground.

Julius Debrah, Chief of staff to President John Mahama said on Wednesday: “The president and the government extend their condolences and solidarity to the families of our comrades and soldiers who fell in their service to the nation,” said Debrah.

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The Ghanaian Air Force had reported earlier Wednesday that a military helicopter had disappeared from radar shortly after taking off from Accra at around 9am (lGMT), bound for Obuasi, northwest of the capital. Debrah announced that flags would be flown at half-mast.

The presidency said that Mahama had suspended all his official activities for the day.

Dr. Omane Boamah  (News Central TV)

The passengers on board the ill-fated flight have been identified as:

  • Dr. Edward Omane Boamah – Defence Minister
  • Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed – Minister of Environment, Science and Technology
  • Dr. Muniru Mohammed Limuna – Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator
  • Dr. Samuel Sarpong – Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)
  • Samuel Aboagye – Former Parliamentary Candidate

Crew members:

  • Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala
  • Flying Officer Twum Ampadu
  • Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah

The helicopter, a Z-9 aircraft belonging to the Ghana Armed Forces, crashed near Adansi-Akrofuom in the Ashanti Region while en route to Obuasi for the launch of the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme.

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