Ghana has been thrown into mourning following the deaths of Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed in a helicopter crash on Wednesday.
The fatal crash, which also claimed the lives of all eight people on board, occurred during a flight from Accra to Obuasi in the Ashanti Region. According to the Ghana Armed Forces, the air force helicopter lost contact with radar shortly after taking off around 9:00 a.m. local time.
Cellphone footage aired by local television station Joy News later showed the burning wreckage in a densely forested area, confirming fears that the passengers had not survived.
The presidency confirmed the deaths in a statement late Wednesday. Chief of Staff Julius Debrah said flags would fly at half-mast and all official engagements for President John Mahama were immediately suspended.
“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,” he said.
Boamah, a medical doctor and seasoned public official, was appointed as defence minister earlier this year. He had previously served as communications minister and deputy environment minister during Mahama’s earlier administration. His latest role placed him at the center of Ghana’s efforts to manage growing security concerns along its northern border with Burkina Faso, where jihadist activity has surged.
Muhammed, the late environment minister, had been leading the government’s clampdown on illegal gold mining, known locally as “galamsey.” The unregulated practice has devastated farmlands, polluted rivers, and threatened Ghana’s cocoa production. His work included recent reforms such as the creation of the Ghana Gold Board and banning foreign nationals from local gold trade.
Also confirmed among the dead were Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, a former agriculture minister and deputy national security coordinator, and Samuel Sarpong, vice chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress. The group was reportedly en route to an event related to illegal mining when the crash occurred.
“This is a dark day for our country,” Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu told reporters, noting that President Mahama was “down, down emotionally” after receiving the news.
The tragedy has shocked the nation and sparked an outpouring of tributes for the deceased, whose contributions spanned public health, national security, environmental protection, and governance.