by Nigerian News24 Correspondents
Ghana is mourning the loss of two cabinet ministers following a fatal helicopter crash on Wednesday. The Presidency confirmed that Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed were among eight people killed when a military helicopter went down in a forested area hours after losing contact with air traffic control.
The Ghana Armed Forces had earlier reported that an Air Force chopper, carrying three crew members and five passengers, disappeared from radar shortly after taking off from Accra at around 9:00 am local time. It was en route to Obuasi, a town northwest of the capital, for an event related to illegal mining—a major environmental issue in the country.
Local broadcaster Joy News aired cellphone footage from the crash site, showing smouldering wreckage in dense forest. The identities of the deceased, including the two high-ranking ministers, were confirmed later in the day.
Boamah, a medical doctor and former communications minister, had only recently taken over the defence portfolio after President John Mahama’s swearing-in earlier this year. He was leading Ghana’s military at a time of rising insecurity in neighbouring Burkina Faso, amid fears of jihadist spillover into northern Ghana.
Muhammed, the Minister of Environment, Science, and Technology, was at the forefront of Ghana’s fight against “galamsey”—the illegal small-scale gold mining that has severely damaged farmland and polluted rivers, threatening cocoa production and livelihoods. His efforts had included the recent launch of the Ghana Gold Board and a ban on foreign participation in the local gold trade.
Also among the victims were Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, Deputy National Security Coordinator and former agriculture minister, and Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress.
President Mahama’s Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, extended condolences on behalf of the government, announcing that all national flags would fly at half-mast. The President also cancelled his official schedule for the day.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, speaking to reporters, described Mahama as being “deeply shaken” by the tragedy.
Boamah had recently led a diplomatic mission to Burkina Faso as part of Ghana’s broader regional engagement with Sahel nations ruled by military juntas. He was also preparing to publish a book titled “A Peaceful Man in an African Democracy”, a tribute to late President John Atta Mills, who passed away in 2012.
The loss of these national figures comes at a crucial time for Ghana, as the government intensifies efforts to address environmental and security challenges both at home and across its borders.