Ghana was thrown into mourning on Wednesday following the deaths of two serving ministers in a military helicopter crash, the presidency confirmed.
Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed were among eight people killed when an air force chopper went down en route from Accra to Obuasi.
The aircraft, which had departed the capital shortly after 9:00 a.m., disappeared from radar less than an hour into the flight.
Authorities confirmed there were no survivors. The crash also claimed the lives of Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, deputy national security coordinator and former agriculture minister, and Samuel Sarpong, vice chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Earlier in the day, the Ghana Armed Forces issued a statement reporting the disappearance of the helicopter, which was carrying three crew members and five passengers.
At the time, it did not name those onboard.
President John Mahama, who appointed Boamah as defence minister earlier this year, has suspended official duties in response to the tragedy.
Presidential Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah announced that all national flags would be flown at half-mast in honour of the deceased.
Boamah, a medical doctor by training, had previously served as communications minister during Mahama’s 2012–2017 administration and also held the position of deputy environment minister.
Muhammed, who headed the Ministry of Environment, Science, and Technology, was a prominent voice in the government’s climate and research initiatives.
In May, Boamah led a diplomatic delegation to Burkina Faso as part of Ghana’s efforts to strengthen ties with junta-led governments in the West African region.
He had been preparing to launch a book titled “A Peaceful Man in an African Democracy”, a tribute to late former President John Atta Mills.
Investigations into the cause of the crash are expected to begin immediately.