Eight people have died in a military helicopter crash in Ghana, including two senior cabinet ministers who were travelling to launch a mining development programme.
Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed were among those killed when the Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter crashed and burst into flames shortly after departing Accra on Wednesday morning.
The aircraft was en route to Obuasi, a major gold-mining centre in the Ashanti region, when it disappeared from radar screens.
Julius Debrah, the government’s chief of staff, described the incident as a “national tragedy” during a televised address to the nation. President [current president’s name] has declared three days of national mourning, with flags to fly at half-mast.
Also killed in the crash were Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna, Ghana’s acting deputy national security coordinator, Samuel Sarpong, vice-chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress, and Samuel Aboagye, a former parliamentary candidate.
The helicopter’s three-member crew – Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Malin Twum-Ampadu and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah – also perished in the incident.
The delegation had been travelling to Obuasi to officially launch the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), aimed at improving mining practices in the region.
Video footage from the crash site showed the aircraft’s wreckage engulfed in flames, with emergency services working to secure the area.
The cause of the crash remains unknown, and military authorities have launched a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
State media reported that the Z-9 utility helicopter is commonly used by Ghana’s military for transport and medical evacuation missions.
The crash represents Ghana’s deadliest aviation disaster in more than a decade, raising fresh concerns about air safety in the West African nation.
In 2014, a military helicopter crashed off Ghana’s coast, killing at least three people. Two years earlier, a cargo aircraft overshot the runway at Accra’s airport, crashing into a bus and killing at least 10 people.
Ghana’s aviation industry has faced scrutiny over safety standards, with international organisations calling for improved maintenance and training protocols.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Ghana’s political establishment, with opposition parties suspending campaign activities as a mark of respect.
Tags: Ghana, helicopter crash, military aircraft, Defence Minister, Environment Minister, Obuasi, mining, aviation disaster, national tragedy, investigation, Ghana Air Force
