Ghana Helicopter Crash Kills Eight, Including Two Ministers in Major National Tragedy

A military helicopter crash in Ghana on Wednesday claimed the lives of all eight people on board, including two senior government ministers and other top officials, marking one of the country’s worst air disasters in over a decade.

The Ghana Armed Forces confirmed the helicopter, a Z-9 model often used for transport and medical evacuations, departed from the capital, Accra, and was en route to the gold-mining town of Obuasi in the Ashanti region when it lost contact. The wreckage was later discovered in the Adansi area of Ashanti, with video footage from the scene showing debris ablaze in a forested area as bystanders attempted to assist.

Among the victims were Defense Minister Edward Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, National Democratic Congress (NDC) Vice-Chair Samuel Sarpong, top national security adviser Muniru Mohammed, and four crew members. Authorities confirmed that there were no survivors.

Ghana’s government has described the incident as a “national tragedy,” and mourners have gathered at both Boamah’s residence and the ruling party’s headquarters to pay their respects.

The cause of the crash remains unknown, and a full investigation has been launched by the military.

This tragedy adds to Ghana’s troubled aviation history, which includes a 2014 service helicopter crash off the coast that killed three and a 2012 cargo plane crash in Accra that left at least 10 dead after colliding with a passenger bus.