By Joy Odor/Ghana
Ghana has been thrown into mourning following the death of its Defence Minister, Edward Omane Boamah, and Environment Minister, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, in a tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of eight people.
The crash occurred in the southern Ashanti region on Wednesday, shortly after a Ghanaian military helicopter departed from the capital, Accra, en route to Obuasi.
The aircraft reportedly went off radar around 09:00 GMT, prompting an emergency response by aviation and security authorities.
Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff to President John Mahama, confirmed the incident in a somber statement from the Presidency.
He noted that alongside the two ministers, other high-profile officials were also killed in the crash, including Alhaji Muniru Muhammad, Deputy National Security Coordinator and former Minister of Agriculture, and Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“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,” Debrah stated.
In response to the national tragedy, President Mahama has suspended all official activities for the day, and national flags are to be flown at half-mast in honor of the deceased.
Further investigations are underway to determine the cause of the crash.
