In one of Ghana’s deadliest air disasters in over a decade, a military helicopter crashed on Wednesday in the Ashanti region, killing eight people on board, including Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed.
The Z-9 helicopter had departed from the capital, Accra, and was en route to Obuasi, a prominent gold-mining hub in the northwest, when it vanished from radar shortly after entering the Ashanti region. The wreckage was later found in a remote forested area near Sikaman.
Among the deceased were National Democratic Congress (NDC) Vice-Chair Samuel Sarpong and senior national security advisor Muniru Mohammed, along with four crew members.
The Ghana Armed Forces have confirmed the incident and announced a full investigation into the cause of the crash. While the Z-9 is widely used for transport and medical evacuation and considered safe, officials said it is too early to determine the reason behind the sudden crash.
A video from the crash site circulating online showed the helicopter debris engulfed in flames as locals rushed to assist.
Ghana’s government has declared the incident a “national tragedy.” Grief-stricken mourners gathered at the residence of the late Defence Minister and at the NDC headquarters in Accra to pay tribute to the fallen leaders.
Ghana has a relatively strong aviation safety record. The last major crash occurred in 2014, when a helicopter crash off the coast killed three. A 2012 cargo plane accident in Accra had killed at least 10 civilians.
An official military inquiry team has been dispatched, and further details are awaited.
