PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has extended his condolences to Ghanaian President John Mahama and the people of Ghana following a tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of several top government officials.
Among the eight people killed were Ghana’s Defence Minister Edward Boamah, Environment Minister Ibrahim Muhammed, and other senior figures, including Muniru Mohammed, a former agriculture minister and deputy national security coordinator, and Samuel Sarpong, vice chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress.
In a statement issued by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu expressed deep sorrow over the loss and assured Mahama of Nigeria’s solidarity during this time of grief.
He noted that the prayers of the Nigerian government and its people are with Ghana as it mourns the national tragedy.
Tinubu encouraged the bereaved families and the Ghanaian nation to take solace in the fact that the deceased lost their lives in service to their country.
Ghanaian military authorities confirmed that the helicopter, which had five passengers and three crew members on board, vanished from radar during a flight to an event addressing illegal mining—an issue of major environmental concern in the country.
The crash site was located in a densely forested area, with local media airing video footage of the burning wreckage.
Edward Boamah had only recently taken office as Defence Minister following Mahama’s inauguration in January, while Ibrahim Muhammed served as Minister of Environment, Science and Technology.
Authorities confirmed there were no survivors in the crash.