A fatal military helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region has claimed the lives of several high-ranking officials, including Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, and Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed.
Also among the deceased are Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Samuel Aboagye, a former parliamentary candidate; and Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The Ghana Armed Forces confirmed that the Z-9 helicopter lost contact shortly after takeoff on the morning of Wednesday, August 6. The aircraft was reportedly en route to Obuasi when it went off radar. Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah, who made up the crew, also perished in the crash.
Emergency teams rushed to the scene following the incident. Graphic images obtained by Citi News showed charred remains, though a full official list of casualties has yet to be released. The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, who was attending an anti-illegal mining event nearby, is said to have immediately left the programme upon hearing the news.
The cause of the crash remains unclear. Authorities have launched investigations to determine what went wrong. This tragedy follows a previous non-fatal helicopter incident on March 19, 2024, near Bonsukrom in the Western Region.
