Ghana’s Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed Among 8 Killed in Helicopter Crash

Ghana is in mourning following the deaths of two senior government ministers and six others in a military helicopter crash in the Ashanti region. The incident, described by Chief of Staff Julius Debrah as a “national tragedy,” has sent shockwaves across the country.

Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment, Science and Technology Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, aged 50, were among the eight victims aboard the Z9 military helicopter. The aircraft was en route from the capital, Accra, to the town of Obuasi for an official event focused on combating illegal mining, an issue of growing environmental and economic concern.

The helicopter, carrying three crew members and five passengers, went down in a dense forest in central Ashanti. Authorities confirmed that there were no survivors. Rescue teams located the wreckage and recovered all eight bodies, which have since been transported to Accra in coffins draped with the Ghanaian flag.

The loss of two cabinet ministers and military personnel has deeply affected the nation, prompting tributes from across the political spectrum and calls for a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash. Government officials have pledged transparency and swift action as inquiries begin.

Flags are flying at half-mast, and memorial arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days. The tragedy has cast a somber tone over national discourse, as Ghanaians reflect on the service and dedication of those lost.