Ghana’s Environment, Science, and Technology Minister, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, and Defence Minister, Edward Omane Boamah, were among eight people killed in a tragic helicopter crash. Chief of Staff Julius Debrah described the incident as a “national tragedy”. The Ghana Armed Forces had earlier reported that the aircraft, carrying three crew members and five passengers, had gone off the radar after taking off from Accra en route to Obuasi. This devastating crash is one of Ghana’s worst air disasters in over a decade. In May 2014, a service helicopter crashed off the coast, resulting in at least three fatalities. Furthermore, in 2021, a cargo plane crashed into a bus full of passengers at the Accra Kotoka International Airport, claiming at least 10 lives. The recent incident has prompted an outpouring of grief, with President John Mahama canceling his official activities for the day and directing that all national flags be flown at half-mast to honor the deceased. An investigation into the cause of the crash is currently underway.
