Ghana Minister of Defence, Edward Omane Boamah alongside seven other top government officials and military personnel have been confirmed dead, after Ghana Armed Forces in a statement on Wednesday had declared the Z9 Military helicopter missing, stating, the helicopter traveling from the nation capital in Accra to Obuasi in Ashanti region went off from radar at 9:12am with three crew members and five passengers onboard.
Others killed in the Helicopter crash as confirmed by the office of the President of Ghana include; (Doctor) Alhaji Murtala Muhammed – MP for Tamale Central, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Alhaji Muniru Mohammed – Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, (Doctor) Samuel Sarpong – Vice Chairman of the NDC, Samuel Aboagye – Former Parliamentary Candidate, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
It was gathered that the military helicopter went down at Adansi Akrofum in the Ashanti Region on Wednesday, for yet to be stated cause of the incident as video footage showed the burnt beyond recognition bodies of those onboard the aircraft.
“The aircraft was from Accra and heading for Obausi and is currently off the radar. All efforts are being made to establish contact,” the Ghana Armed Forces had stated in a statement earlier on Wednesday.
The Government of Ghana has directed that all national flags be flown at half-mast in honour of the late government top officials, Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence, and Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, among others who died in the military helicopter crash.
According to local media, the fatal incident occurred on Wednesday, August 6, in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region while the two ministers, along with six others, were en route to Obuasi for official duties.
Announcing the directive, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah expressed the government’s deep sorrow regarding the loss of the two senior public officials and others onboard the helicopter.
“The President is emotionally down… The Vice President is leading a team to formally inform the families”, Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu told news reporters following the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of top government officials including the Defence and Environment Ministers.
While announcing the death of the all passengers and crew members onboard, the Ghana Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah said; “On behalf of the President of the Republic, His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama, the Vice President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, who is with us here, and the Government of Ghana, I have the unpleasant duty, sadly, to announce a national tragedy involving the crash of a military helicopter this morning around the Adansi area in the Ashanti Region.
Government regrets to announce the demise of the following persons in the tragic crash:
(Doctor) Edward Kofi Omane Boamah- Minister for Defence. Alhaji (Doctor) Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed (MP)- Minister for Environment, Science and Technology. Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator and former Minister for Food and Agriculture. (Doctor) Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress, and Samuel Aboagye, a former parliamentary candidate. Squadron leader Peter Baafemi Anala. Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu. Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
The President and Government extend our condolences and sympathies to the families of our comrades and servicemen who died in service to the country.
All flags are to fly at half-mast until further notice”, Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff stated in a press briefing.