GHANA’S Defence Minister, Edward Omane Boamah, and Environment Minister, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, were among those killed in a helicopter crash today according to a statement from the presidency.
The military had earlier reported that an air force helicopter carrying eight individuals—three crew members and five passengers—went off radar shortly after departing Accra around 9:00 a.m. local time.
The aircraft was en route to Obuasi for an event focused on illegal mining, a critical environmental issue in the country.
Local broadcaster Joy News aired footage from the crash site, revealing smouldering wreckage in a densely forested area.
It was later confirmed that the two ministers were aboard the ill-fated flight.
President John Mahama appointed Boamah as Defence Minister earlier this year after taking office in January.
A medical doctor by training, Boamah had previously served as Communications Minister and as Deputy Minister of Environment.
His leadership came at a time of rising security concerns along Ghana’s northern border due to instability in neighbouring Burkina Faso.
Though Ghana has so far avoided militant spillover, there have been growing fears over arms smuggling and militant infiltration.
Minister Muhammed was leading efforts to combat illegal gold mining—locally known as “galamsey”—which has significantly damaged farmlands and polluted water sources.
The issue was a key focus during Mahama’s campaign and has been a priority for his administration.
Under his leadership, initiatives like the Ghana Gold Board and a ban on foreign participation in local gold trading were launched to tackle the problem.
Also among the deceased were Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, Deputy National Security Coordinator and former Agriculture Minister, and Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress.
In response to the tragedy, President Mahama cancelled his official engagements for the day.
His Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, announced that flags would be flown at half-mast nationwide in honour of the victims.
Speaking to reporters, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu said the president was “deeply shaken” by the loss.
Boamah had recently led diplomatic efforts with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—countries currently governed by military juntas and disengaged from ECOWAS.
He was also preparing to publish a book titled “A Peaceful Man in an African Democracy” about the late President John Atta Mills.
The crash is a significant loss for Ghana’s leadership and comes at a sensitive time for the nation’s security and environmental efforts.