Ghana is mourning the loss of key government figures following a tragic helicopter crash on Tuesday, 6th August 2025, which claimed the lives of eight individuals, including two senior ministers and other high-ranking officials.
According to multiple credible Ghanaian media sources, including Graphic Online, Citi Newsroom, and JoyNews, the Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter was en route from Accra to Obuasi in the Ashanti Region when it went off the radar and crashed in the Adansi area. The officials onboard were reportedly on a mission to inspect environmental degradation and illegal mining sites (popularly known as galamsey) in the region.
Among the deceased were:
- Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Minister of Defence
- Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation
- Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and former Ashanti Regional Minister
- Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Limuna, Deputy National Security Coordinator
- Samuel Aboagye, Deputy Director-General of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO)
- And three Ghana Air Force crew members: Squadron Leader Peter Anala, Flying Officer Manaen Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah
According to reports from Ghanaian state television and other local media, the helicopter lost communication shortly after takeoff. Eyewitnesses in the Adansi area reported hearing a loud explosion before discovering wreckage scattered across a forested area. Emergency responders and military personnel were quickly deployed, but there were no survivors.
President John Mahama, in a statement issued through the Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, described the incident as “a national disaster of unimaginable proportion.” The President declared three days of national mourning and ordered flags to fly at half-mast across the country. He also suspended all official engagements and directed state security services to commence a full-scale investigation into the crash.
According to Graphic Online, the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority have begun retrieving the aircraft’s black box to determine the cause of the crash, which many suspect may have been triggered by bad weather or technical failure.
Leaders from across the political divide have expressed shock and sorrow. In a special parliamentary session held on Wednesday morning, lawmakers observed a moment of silence in honour of the fallen officials. Members described them as “patriotic and selfless servants who gave their lives in service to the nation.”
According to JoyNews, family members of the deceased were seen in tears at the military base in Accra, where the bodies were airlifted after recovery. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced after consultations with the families and the presidency.
This tragedy marks one of the worst air disasters in Ghana’s recent history, and tributes have poured in from international partners and African leaders, many of whom described the deceased as transformational figures in their respective ministries.
