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By Correspondent in Ghana.
Two victims of the crash
(C) PoliticNigeria.
Ghana has been plunged into mourning following a tragic military helicopter crash that killed eight prominent figures, including two serving cabinet ministers, senior military personnel, and key political leaders.
Sources said the fatal crash occurred in the forested area of Adansi Akrofuom District in the Ashanti Region during an official state assignment.
The Reporters gathered that the ill-fated Z-9 military helicopter had taken off from Accra at 09:12 hours, heading to Obuasi, where the delegation was to attend the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP).
The online publication further gathered that moments after takeoff, the aircraft lost contact with radar, prompting a desperate search leading to a development eyewitnesses described as horrifying of a fiery explosion as the helicopter slammed into the dense forest and burst into flames.
The Ghana Armed Forces and the government have confirmed the identities of the eight victims:
Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence
Alhaji Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, and Member of Parliament for Tamale Central
Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator
Dr. Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)
Samuel Aboagye, former parliamentary candidate
Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, pilot
Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, co-pilot
Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah, Air Force crew member
Addressing the nation in a solemn broadcast from Jubilee House, the Chief of Staff,Julius Debrah, confirmed the devastating incident and announced a three-day national mourning period. Flags are to fly at half-mast, and all official state events have been suspended.
This tragedy marks one of the darkest days in Ghana’s recent history, cutting short the lives of public servants committed to national development and peace.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
