Ghana Helicopter Crash Kills Defence and Environment Ministers in Ashanti Region

The aircraft lifted off from the Air Force base in Accra at roughly 09:12 local time en route to Obuasi for an official mining-sector event, but disappeared from radar within minutes. Search teams later found the wreckage and burning debris in forest near Brofoyedru; no survivors were recovered. The cause of the crash is not yet known. 

Victims (all deceased)

• Dr Edward Omane Boamah – Minister for Defence

• Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed – Minister for Environment, Science & Technology

• Alhaji Muniru Mohammed – Acting Deputy National-Security Coordinator

• Dr Samuel Sarpong – Vice-Chairman, National Democratic Congress

• Samuel Aboagye – Former parliamentary candidate

• Sqn Ldr Peter Bafemi Anala – Pilot

• Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu – Co-pilot

• Sgt Ernest Addo Mensah – Flight engineer 

Chief of Staff Julius Debrah called the incident “a national tragedy,” ordered all flags flown at half-mast for three days and said a joint military-civilian board of inquiry would begin work immediately. President John Mahama has conveyed condolences to the bereaved families. 

Military officials confirmed that radar contact was lost with the Chinese-built Harbin Z-9 — a utility variant used for transport and medevac — and noted that the same model was involved in a non-fatal mishap in March 2024. Investigators will focus on weather, maintenance logs and possible mechanical failure. 

The delegation had been heading to Obuasi to launch the Responsible Cooperative Mining & Skills Development Programme, a flagship initiative aimed at formalising small-scale gold mining. 

Wednesday’s loss is Ghana’s deadliest military aviation accident in more than a decade and one of the most severe in West Africa in recent years. Further updates will follow as the investigation unfolds.