A helicopter crash has killed all eight folks on board, together with the nation’s defence and setting ministers, in accordance with Ghana’s authorities.
Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Surroundings Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed have been among the many victims of the crash within the southern Ashanti area of the nation, stated Julius Debrah, chief of employees to President John Mahama, on Wednesday.
“The president and the federal government lengthen their condolences and solidarity to the households of our comrades and troopers who fell of their service to the nation,” stated Debrah.
Additionally among the many victims have been Alhaji Mohammad Muniru Limuna, deputy nationwide safety coordinator and former minister of agriculture, and Samuel Sarpong, vice chairman of Mahama’s Nationwide Democratic Congress (NDC) celebration.
Boamah was helming Ghana’s defence ministry at a time when armed teams throughout its northern border in Burkina Faso had turn into more and more restive.
Whereas Ghana has to date prevented a insurgent spillover from the Sahel – not like neighbours Togo and Benin – observers have warned of elevated arms trafficking and of fighters from Burkina Faso crossing the porous border to make use of Ghana as a rear base.
A medical physician by coaching, Boamah’s profession in authorities included stints as communications minister throughout Mahama’s earlier 2012-2017 tenure. Earlier than that, he was the deputy minister for the setting.
As Ghana has pursued elevated diplomacy with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger – all dominated by navy governments who’ve damaged with the ECOWAS West African regional bloc – Boamah led a delegation to Ouagadougou in Might.
He had been set to launch a e-book titled, A Peaceable Man in an African Democracy, about former President John Atta Mills, who died in 2012.
The Ghanaian Armed Forces had reported earlier Wednesday that an air power helicopter had fallen off radar after taking off from Accra simply after 9:00am (09:00 GMT). It had been headed in the direction of the city of Obuasi, northwest of the capital.
The assertion had stated that three crew and 5 passengers have been on board, with out specifying on the time that the ministers have been amongst them.
All flags have been to be flown at half-staff, Debrah stated, whereas the presidency stated Mahama had cancelled his official actions for the day.