Ghana is in mourning following the death of two federal ministers in a military helicopter crash that occurred on Wednesday in the Ashanti Region.
The deceased include the country’s Minister of Defence, Edward Omane Boamah, and the Minister of Environment, Science, and Technology, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed. Their deaths were confirmed by President John Mahama’s Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, during a press briefing.
According to Debrah, the tragic crash also claimed the lives of three other senior government officials and three Air Force personnel, bringing the total number of casualties to eight. The incident has been described by the presidency as a “national tragedy.”
“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,” Debrah said, as quoted by Reuters.
Ghana’s Armed Forces earlier reported that radar contact had been lost with the Z9 Air Force helicopter, which was carrying five passengers and three crew members before it crashed.
The cause of the crash is yet to be officially determined, but investigations have been launched by military aviation authorities to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident.
Flags are expected to fly at half-mast in honour of the fallen officials, as the nation grapples with the loss of key members of its government and security forces.
Leave a Reply