A devastating helicopter crash in Ghana’s Ashanti region on Wednesday has claimed the lives of eight individuals, including two high-ranking government officials. The country’s Defence Minister, Edward Omane Boamah, and the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, were among the casualties.
According to Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff to President John Mahama, the incident also resulted in the deaths of three additional government officials and three members of the Air Force who were aboard the ill-fated flight.
At a press briefing, Debrah characterized the crash as a “national tragedy,” underscoring the significant loss to Ghana’s leadership and military. “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”.
Prior to the crash, the Ghana Armed Forces had reported the loss of radar contact with a Z9 model Air Force helicopter. The aircraft had a total of eight occupants; three crew members and five passengers. Officials have not yet publicly identified all those on board or disclosed the exact nature of the mission.
Emergency teams were promptly deployed to the crash site to begin recovery efforts. The Z9 helicopter, typically used by the Ghana Air Force for transport and medical evacuation, reportedly vanished from radar over an undisclosed area before communications with air traffic control ceased.
While investigations are ongoing, early reports suggest that either a mechanical failure or adverse weather conditions may have contributed to the tragedy.
