A tragic military helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region on Wednesday, August 6, has reportedly claimed the lives of the Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, and the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed.
Others who have been confirmed dead in the crash are Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, and Samuel Aboagye a former Parliamentary Candidate, and Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of NDC.
The crew members are Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
According to initial reports, the high-ranking government officials were aboard a Ghana Armed Forces Z-9 helicopter en route to Obuasi when the aircraft went off radar.
Emergency response teams rushed to the crash site following the incident. Graphic footage and images obtained by Citi News showed the charred remains of several victims, though officials have yet to release a full list of the deceased or injured.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, who was attending an anti-illegal mining event at the time, reportedly abandoned the programme and rushed to the crash scene upon receiving the news.
In a brief statement, the Ghana Armed Forces confirmed that efforts were underway to trace and assess the wreckage of the helicopter after it lost contact shortly after takeoff on Wednesday morning. The cause of the crash remains unknown, and authorities have yet to confirm further details.
This incident comes more than a year after a previous helicopter accident on March 19, 2024, when a military aircraft crash-landed near Bonsukrom in the Western Region. Fortunately, that earlier crash resulted in no fatalities.
More updates are expected as investigations continue, and families are notified.