After the tragic helicopter crash that killed two government ministers and six others, President of Ghana, John Mahama, has promised a full investigation into the heartbreaking incident.
On Wednesday, Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment, Science and Technology Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed were among those killed when a military aircraft crashed in the Ashanti region.
Mahama has opened up on the tragic incident in a televised address to the nation, saying the crash represented “a personal loss” for him.
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“I shared a bond with many of those who died. Our nation is grieving,” he said.
According to reports, the Z9 helicopter, carrying three crew and five passengers, came down in a dense forest as it was flying from the capital, Accra, to the town of Obuasi for an event to tackle illegal mining.
Unfortunately, none of the passengers survived.
The remains of the eight deceased have been recovered from the crash site, with samples reportedly sent to South Africa for forensic identification and analysis.
Other notable government officials who lost their lives were Ghana’s Deputy National Security Coordinator and former Agriculture Minister Alhaji Muniru Mohammed and Samuel Sarpong, Vice-Chairman of the governing National Democratic Congress party.
The nation has confirmed that a state funeral will be held on 15 August for the victims.
For now, the cause of the helicopter crash is yet to be confirmed. However, Mahama revealed that the flight data and cockpit voice recorders had been retrieved and that the Armed Forces of Ghana had “initiated a full and transparent investigation”.
Ghana’s meteorological agency had forecast unusually cold weather for August, as recent rains and light showers caused foggy conditions in many forest areas.
Footage indicates that local farmers near the crash site reported morning fog as the helicopter flew overhead.
In recent years, this is the most deadly of three separate emergency crashes involving Ghana Air Force helicopters.
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In 2020, a Ghana Air Force Harbin Z-9 helicopter made an emergency landing near Tamale Airport, and last year, another Ghana Air Force helicopter made an emergency landing at Bonsukrom in Ghana’s Western Region.
