Ghana’s Defence and Environment Ministers Killed in Military Helicopter Crash
A military helicopter crash in Ghana has killed eight people, including the defence and environment ministers, sparking national mourning and a security leadership vacuum.
Ghanaian officials gather in mourning after a helicopter crash kills eight, including two senior ministers and military crew. Photo: @GHANANEWSAGENCY
August 7, 2025 Hour: 5:17 am
A military helicopter crash in central Ghana on Wednesday claimed the lives of eight people, including the country’s defence and environment ministers, in one of the deadliest air disasters in more than a decade.
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The Z-9 military helicopter departed from the capital, Accra, on Wednesday morning and was en route to Obuasi in the Ashanti region when it lost radar contact. Hours later, the wreckage was located in the Adansi area, with no survivors found.
Among the victims were Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, alongside Samuel Sarpong, vice-chair of the ruling National Democratic Congress, and Muniru Mohammed, a senior national security adviser. Four air force personnel also died in the crash.
Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff to President John Mahama, described the incident as a “national tragedy” during a press briefing. “The president and government extend our condolences and sympathies to the families of our comrades and the servicemen who died in service to the country,” he said.
The cause of the crash has not yet been determined. Military authorities confirmed that an investigation is underway.
Boamah, who previously served as communications minister, was appointed defence minister in January following President Mahama’s return to office. His successor will inherit a complex security agenda, as Ghana—like other coastal West African nations—faces growing threats from Sahel-based armed groups pushing south from Burkina Faso and Mali.
The Z-9 helicopter is typically used by the Ghanaian military for personnel transport and medical evacuation.
Mourners gathered outside Boamah’s residence and at the National Democratic Congress headquarters on Wednesday evening, as the country began to reckon with the scale of the loss.
The crash has dealt a significant blow to Ghana’s political leadership and security apparatus at a time of increasing regional instability. As the investigation unfolds, the country faces both the task of mourning its fallen officials and addressing pressing national security challenges.
The country has also declared three days of national mourning from Thursday, and all flags are to fly at half mast during the period.
Author: MK
Source: Al Jazeera - AP
