Ghana Helicopter Crash Claims Two Ministers and Six Others

On August 6, 2025, Ghana was struck by a heartbreaking national tragedy when a Ghana Air Force Harbin Z-9EH military helicopter crashed into a forested mountainside in the Ashanti Region. All eight people on board perished, including two prominent government ministers: Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed.   

The helicopter departed from Kotoka International Airport in Accra around 9:12 a.m., bound for an anti-illegal mining event in Obuasi’s Black Park. En route, the aircraft disappeared from radar, and wreckage was later located on a forested mountainside in the central Ashanti region. The aftermath brought horrific scenes, including debris ablaze and victims tragically burnt beyond recognition.   

One local farmer recounted seeing the helicopter flying unusually low, noting that the weather was bad . He described hearing the sound of the aircraft overhead, followed moments later by a loud noise and then a powerful bang. Realizing it had likely exploded, he rushed toward the crash site in hopes of finding survivors. Tragically, when he arrived, there was no one left to save.

Among the victims of the crash were:

• Edward Omane Boamah, Ghana’s Defence Minister

• Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Environment Minister

• Alhaji Mohammad Muniru Limuna, Deputy National Security Coordinator and former Agriculture Minister

• Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chair of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC)

• The three crew members   

President John Mahama declared three days of national mourning and suspended all official engagements. Flags across Ghana were flown at half-mast, reflecting the depth of the loss. Parliament expressed profound sorrow, while the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, described the tragedy as a “national tragedy.”   

The government swiftly mobilized investigative efforts. The helicopter’s flight recorder (“black box”) was recovered, and the Ghana National Fire Service, alongside other agencies, began a formal inquiry. 

The outpouring of condolences was overwhelming. International organizations and foreign governments, including the United Nations, African Union, ECOWAS, and nations such as Nigeria, Kenya, Germany, and the United Kingdom, expressed solidarity, frustration, and grief at the magnitude of Ghana’s loss. 

This heartbreaking incident is more than a personal loss for the families, it’s a blow to the nation’s leadership and institutional continuity. Ghana has lost stewards at the helm of its defence and environmental frontiers, at a moment when both domains are critically important for national security and sustainable development.

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