President John Mahama of Ghana has appointed acting ministers to temporarily fill key cabinet positions left vacant after a tragic helicopter crash claimed the lives of the country’s Defence Minister and the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology.
The fatal incident occurred on Wednesday when a Z-9 military helicopter belonging to the Ghana Armed Forces lost contact while en route from the capital, Accra, to Obuasi, a gold-mining town in the southern region. The aircraft was carrying top government officials on official duty and crashed with no survivors, including the two ministers.
In a statement from the presidency’s communications directorate, Mahama directed Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson to take on additional duties as acting Defence Minister.
He also appointed Emmanuel Kofi Armah Buah, the current Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, to serve as acting Minister for Environment, Science and Technology “until further notice.”
“President John Dramani Mahama has asked the Minister for Finance, Hon Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, to take on additional responsibility as Defence Minister,” the statement reads.
“The President has also asked the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon Emmanuel Kofi Armah Buah, to act as Minister for Environment, Science and Technology until further notice.”
“This follows the tragic demise of the substantive Ministers for Defence and Environment, Science and Technology, in yesterday’s fatal helicopter crash on their way to an event in Obuasi.”
President Mahama described the incident as a national tragedy and immediately suspended official activities upon receiving the news. He also ordered that national flags be flown at half-mast in honour of the victims.