Ghana mourns as Helicopter crash kills Defence Minister, Environment Minister, and six others
A military helicopter crash in Ghana’s Ashanti region has claimed the lives of Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, and six others, plunging the nation into mourning.
The Z9 helicopter, en route from Accra to Obuasi for an anti-illegal mining operation, crashed in a forest, leaving no survivors.
The victims included high-ranking officials, military personnel, and a senior ruling party member.
Their flag-draped coffins were received in a solemn ceremony at an Accra Air Force base.
President John Mahama declared three days of national mourning, suspending all official activities.
Investigators have yet to determine the cause of the crash, but images of the wreckage have circulated online, deepening public grief.
Boamah, a key figure in countering jihadist threats in northern Ghana, and Muhammed, a vocal opponent of illegal mining, leave behind critical legacies.
The tragedy has stunned the nation, with Mahama described as “emotionally devastated.”
Funeral plans remain pending as authorities work to formally identify the bodies. Flags across Ghana will fly at half-mast in honor of the victims.
