Ghana has been thrown into mourning following the deaths of two cabinet ministers in a helicopter crash on Wednesday. The incident, confirmed by the presidency, claimed the lives of Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, along with six others on board.
The Ghanaian Armed Forces reported earlier in the day that a military chopper had gone off the radar shortly after taking off from Accra around 9:00 a.m., en route to Obuasi in the Ashanti Region. The aircraft never made it to its destination.
All eight passengers confirmed dead
The crash killed all three crew members and five passengers. Among the victims were Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, Ghana’s deputy national security coordinator and former agriculture minister, and Samuel Sarpong, vice chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
In a statement, President John Mahama’s Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, said:
“The president and government extend our condolences and sympathies to the families of our comrades and the servicemen who died in service to the country.”
Boamah was a rising political figure
Dr. Edward Omane Boamah had only recently been appointed as defence minister following Mahama’s swearing-in earlier this year. A medical doctor by training, he was previously communications minister and also served as deputy minister for environment.
Boamah’s tenure at the defence ministry came at a crucial time, with Ghana increasing its vigilance against jihadist threats spilling over from Burkina Faso. Though Ghana has remained relatively secure, experts have warned about arms trafficking and militant movement across the porous northern border.
He was also a published writer, set to release a book titled “A Peaceful Man in an African Democracy”, honoring the late President John Atta Mills.
National mourning underway
In response to the tragedy, President Mahama cancelled all official activities for the day and ordered flags to be flown at half-staff nationwide.
Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, who had been steering national efforts on climate and tech innovation, was also among those lost in the crash.
The deaths mark a devastating moment for Ghana’s political leadership and security apparatus, especially as the country continues to navigate growing regional instability in West Africa.
