Ghana ministers among 8 dead in Ashanti region helicopter crash
Ghana's defence and environment ministers are among eight dead after a helicopter crash tragically killed all eight passengers in the Ashanti region.
The government Defence minster Edward Omane Boamah and environment minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed were revealed to be among the dead after footage revealed the wreckage of the chopper which had dropped off the radar of armed forces.
It is believed the crew were on its way to the town of Obuasi, northwest of the capital to an event to discuss illegal mining, a serious issue in the country.
Muhammed, the environment minister, was at the helm as the country battles a scourge of illicit gold mining that has destroyed farmlands and contaminated water.
Mr Boamah had only recently become President John Mahahma's defence minister after his swearing in at the beginning of the year, coming in at a time when armed groups across the country's northern border in Burkina Faso had become increasingly restive.
'The president and government extend our condolences and solidarity to the families of our comrades and soldiers who fell in their service to the nation,' Mahama's chief of staff Julius Debrah said.
Other victims included the deputy national security co-ordinator, Alhaji Mohammad Muniru, and vice-chairman of Mahama's National Democratic Congress Party, Samuel Sarpong
Ghanaian Armed Forces revealed an investigation has launched to determine the cause of the incident.
The site of a military helicopter crash in Sikaman near Adansi, Ashanti region, Ghana. Photo: AP Photo/Hafiz Tijani.
It was reported President Mahama was 'down, down, down emotionally' after news of the crash broke.
Mr Mahama was in part elected to thwart the illegal mining, which was also threatening cocoa production.
The first concrete steps were made earlier in the year with the newly formed Ghana Gold Board, which banned foreigners from the local gold trade to help combat the issue.
Edward Omane Boamah (R), Ghana's defense minister who was killed in a helicopter crash along with several other top officials. Photo: AP Photo/Christian Thompson.
A medical doctor by training, Boamah's career in government included stints as communications minister during Mahama's previous 2012-2017 tenure. Before that, he was the deputy minister for the environment.
As Ghana has pursued increased diplomacy with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger – all ruled by military governments who have broken with the ECOWAS West African regional bloc – Boamah led a delegation to Ouagadougou in May.
He had been set to release a book titled, A Peaceful Man in an African Democracy, about former President John Atta Mills, who died in 2012.
Originally published as Helicopter crash kills eight, including Ghana's defence minister and environment minister who were seeking to end illegal gold mining
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Daily Telegraph
3 days ago
- Daily Telegraph
Ghana ministers among 8 dead in Ashanti region helicopter crash
Don't miss out on the headlines from Leaders. Followed categories will be added to My News. Ghana's defence and environment ministers are among eight dead after a helicopter crash tragically killed all eight passengers in the Ashanti region. The government Defence minster Edward Omane Boamah and environment minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed were revealed to be among the dead after footage revealed the wreckage of the chopper which had dropped off the radar of armed forces. It is believed the crew were on its way to the town of Obuasi, northwest of the capital to an event to discuss illegal mining, a serious issue in the country. Muhammed, the environment minister, was at the helm as the country battles a scourge of illicit gold mining that has destroyed farmlands and contaminated water. Mr Boamah had only recently become President John Mahahma's defence minister after his swearing in at the beginning of the year, coming in at a time when armed groups across the country's northern border in Burkina Faso had become increasingly restive. 'The president and government extend our condolences and solidarity to the families of our comrades and soldiers who fell in their service to the nation,' Mahama's chief of staff Julius Debrah said. Other victims included the deputy national security co-ordinator, Alhaji Mohammad Muniru, and vice-chairman of Mahama's National Democratic Congress Party, Samuel Sarpong Ghanaian Armed Forces revealed an investigation has launched to determine the cause of the incident. The site of a military helicopter crash in Sikaman near Adansi, Ashanti region, Ghana. Photo: AP Photo/Hafiz Tijani. It was reported President Mahama was 'down, down, down emotionally' after news of the crash broke. Mr Mahama was in part elected to thwart the illegal mining, which was also threatening cocoa production. The first concrete steps were made earlier in the year with the newly formed Ghana Gold Board, which banned foreigners from the local gold trade to help combat the issue. Edward Omane Boamah (R), Ghana's defense minister who was killed in a helicopter crash along with several other top officials. Photo: AP Photo/Christian Thompson. A medical doctor by training, Boamah's career in government included stints as communications minister during Mahama's previous 2012-2017 tenure. Before that, he was the deputy minister for the environment. As Ghana has pursued increased diplomacy with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger – all ruled by military governments who have broken with the ECOWAS West African regional bloc – Boamah led a delegation to Ouagadougou in May. He had been set to release a book titled, A Peaceful Man in an African Democracy, about former President John Atta Mills, who died in 2012. Originally published as Helicopter crash kills eight, including Ghana's defence minister and environment minister who were seeking to end illegal gold mining
News.com.au
3 days ago
- News.com.au
Helicopter crash kills eight, including Ghana's defence minister and environment minister who were seeking to end illegal gold mining
Ghana's defence and environment ministers are among eight dead after a helicopter crash tragically killed all eight passengers in the Ashanti region. The government Defence minster Edward Omane Boamah and environment minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed were revealed to be among the dead after footage revealed the wreckage of the chopper which had dropped off the radar of armed forces. It is believed the crew were on its way to the town of Obuasi, northwest of the capital to an event to discuss illegal mining, a serious issue in the country. Muhammed, the environment minister, was at the helm as the country battles a scourge of illicit gold mining that has destroyed farmlands and contaminated water. Mr Boamah had only recently become President John Mahahma's defence minister after his swearing in at the beginning of the year, coming in at a time when armed groups across the country's northern border in Burkina Faso had become increasingly restive. 'The president and government extend our condolences and solidarity to the families of our comrades and soldiers who fell in their service to the nation,' Mahama's chief of staff Julius Debrah said. Other victims included the deputy national security co-ordinator, Alhaji Mohammad Muniru, and vice-chairman of Mahama's National Democratic Congress Party, Samuel Sarpong Ghanaian Armed Forces revealed an investigation has launched to determine the cause of the incident. It was reported President Mahama was 'down, down, down emotionally' after news of the crash broke. Mr Mahama was in part elected to thwart the illegal mining, which was also threatening cocoa production. The first concrete steps were made earlier in the year with the newly formed Ghana Gold Board, which banned foreigners from the local gold trade to help combat the issue. A medical doctor by training, Boamah's career in government included stints as communications minister during Mahama's previous 2012-2017 tenure. Before that, he was the deputy minister for the environment. As Ghana has pursued increased diplomacy with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger – all ruled by military governments who have broken with the ECOWAS West African regional bloc – Boamah led a delegation to Ouagadougou in May.
West Australian
3 days ago
- West Australian
Helicopter crash in Ghana kills defence, environment ministers and senior officials
A helicopter crash in Ghana, has killed eight people including the West African nation's defence and environment ministers, the government says. The military says the helicopter took off on Wednesday morning from the capital, Accra, toward Obuasi, a gold-mining area in the Ashanti region, but went off the radar. The cause of the crash was not immediately known. Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed were killed alongside the vice-chair of the National Democratic Congress ruling party, a top national security adviser and crew members. State media said the Z-9 helicopter is often used as a utility helicopter often used for transport and medical evacuation. Ghana's government described the crash as a 'national tragedy'. Wednesday's crash was one of Ghana's worst air disasters in more than a decade. In May 2014, a service helicopter crashed off the coast, killing at least three people. In 2021, a cargo plane overran the runway in Accra and crashed into a bus full of passengers, killing at least 10 people. Like other coastal West African countries, Ghana faces threats from Islamist groups active in the Sahel that have tried to push south from landlocked Burkina Faso and Mali where they stage frequent deadly attacks. With Reuters
