Ghana was thrown into mourning on Wednesday following the crash of a military helicopter en route from Accra to Obuasi, which claimed the lives of eight prominent individuals, including two serving ministers and senior security officials.

Naijaonpoint reports that the Z-9 military helicopter, which lost contact mid-flight, was carrying government and army personnel to Obuasi, a gold-mining town in southern Ghana, for an official engagement when the tragedy occurred.

Ghanaian President John Mahama described the crash as a “national tragedy”, suspending all official engagements and ordering flags to fly at half-mast across the country.

In the same manner, President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria joined other world leaders in expressing condolences to the people of Ghana over the incident, describing the victims as “heroes who died in the line of patriotic service.”

Naijaonpoint gathered that authorities have released the names and designations of those who perished in the crash:

Edward Omane Boamah – Minister for Defence

Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed – Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology

Muniru Mohammed – Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator and former Minister for Food and Agriculture

Samuel Sarpong – Vice-Chairman, National Democratic Congress (NDC)

Samuel Aboagye – Former Parliamentary Candidate

Peter Baafemi Anala – Squadron Leader

Manaen Twum Ampadu – Flying Officer

Ernest Addo – Sergeant