Ghana has launched an investigation into a devastating military helicopter crash that killed all eight people on board, including the country’s defense and environment ministers, as well as other high-ranking officials. The nation has declared a three-day period of national mourning, with flags to be flown at half-mast starting Thursday.
The Ghanaian military reported that the helicopter departed from the capital, Accra, on Wednesday morning, heading northwest toward the gold mining region of Obuasi in the Ashanti region. The aircraft disappeared from radar, and its wreckage was later discovered in the Adansi area.
Among the victims were Defense Minister Edward Oman Boamah, Environment Minister Ibrahim Matala Muhammad, Samuel Sarpong (the first chair of the ruling National Democratic Congress party), Muniru Muhammad (a senior national security adviser), and the four crew members.
Mourners gathered at the residence of the late defense minister and at the party’s headquarters as the government described the incident as a “national tragedy.” State media identified the aircraft as a Z9 helicopter, commonly used for transport and medical evacuations. The cause of the crash remains unknown.
Muniru Muhammad is expected to be buried on Thursday in accordance with Muslim tradition. The nation remains in shock as authorities work to determine what led to the fatal crash.
