The remains of the eight victims killed in Wednesday’s military helicopter crash have been flown to South Africa for advanced forensic analysis, as Ghana grapples with the loss of two government ministers and six others in the tragic accident.
A private jet carrying the bodies departed Kotoka International Airport in Accra on Thursday evening, marking a somber step in the investigation into the crash that has plunged the nation into mourning.
Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama delivered a heartfelt address to the nation, expressing profound grief over the deaths of what he called “some of our nation’s brightest minds.”
“This tragedy represents a deep personal loss for me,” President Mahama said. “I shared a close bond with many of those who died. Our nation is grieving.”
Extending his condolences to the families of the victims, the President emphasized their dedication to public service.
“Your loss is our loss—a loss of dedicated public servants, intellectuals, and individuals who tirelessly worked for a better Ghana,” he said. “That their final moments were spent in service is a testament to their unwavering commitment.”
The fatal crash occurred in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region, claiming the lives of two high-ranking government officials and six others onboard.
The incident has sent shockwaves across the country, with tributes pouring in for the victims.
As authorities continue investigating the cause of the crash, Ghana observes a period of collective mourning—honoring the fallen while awaiting answers.
“This is a moment of shared heartbreak,” President Mahama said. “A time to reflect on the preciousness of life, the sacrifices of public service, and our gratitude for those who dedicate themselves to the well-being of our fellow citizens.”
Among the dead were Edward Omane Boamah, the minister of defense; and Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, the minister of environment, science and technology, Julius Debrah, the government’s chief of staff, said in a televised news conference on Wednesday.
“I have the unpleasant duty, suddenly, to announce a national tragedy involving the crash of a military helicopter this morning,” Mr. Debrah said. It was not immediately clear why the helicopter crashed.
The deaths were announced hours after Ghana’s armed forces said in a post on social media that a helicopter traveling from Accra, the capital, to a mining community in the Ashanti region had gone “off the radar.” The post said efforts were being made to reestablish contact.
The armed forces subsequently confirmed the deaths of all onboard the helicopter in a statement on social media. It extended condolences to the families and said investigations were underway to determine the cause of the crash.
Also killed were the acting deputy national security coordinator, Alhaji Muniru Mohammed; the vice chair of the National Democratic Congress political party, Samuel Sarpong; the deputy director general of Ghana’s disaster relief agency, Samuel Aboagye; and three members of the military, including the pilot, according to Mr. Debrah.
The officials were headed to a gathering on illegal mining at the Obuasi Black Park in the Ashanti region as part of a broader government effort to encourage responsible practices, according to local news reports.
The gathering was meant to bring together Ghana’s president, John Dramani Mahama, along with other government and local leaders, mining association members and development partners, according to a program lineup posted online by officials ahead of the event. Obuasi is about 170 miles northwest of the capital by car and about 110 miles by air.
Mr. Debrah called for all flags to be flown at half-staff until further notice.
This was not the first military helicopter crash in Ghana. In 2007, a military chopper carrying the casket of a former defense minister to his funeral burst into flames and crashed after hitting a telephone pole during landing. The passengers and crew members survived, but the body was not recovered, according to local news media.
In 2002, a military helicopter dispatched to transport people injured in a car accident to a hospital in Accra also crashed, killing seven.
And in 2014, a service helicopter carrying workers to an offshore drilling rig burst into flames and crashed into the sea, killing four of eight people onboard, according to an official investigation.
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