Ghana has held a solemn national memorial for eight people killed in one of its worst air disasters in more than a decade, after a military helicopter carrying top government officials crashed shortly after takeoff from Accra. The victims included Defense Minister Edward Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, four aides, and two Air Force crew members. The aircraft was en route to the gold-mining hub of Obuasi in the Ashanti Region when it disappeared from radar. Rescuers later confirmed there were no survivors.
At Thursday’s memorial service in Accra, President John Dramani Mahama praised the officials’ dedication to public service and pledged long-term support for their families. “We must honour their memory not just with words, but with deeds that protect and provide for those they left behind,” Mahama said, as flags across the country flew at half-mast.
Investigators are still piecing together the cause of the crash. Early reports suggest poor visibility due to heavy fog may have played a role, but authorities are examining the helicopter’s black boxes for answers.
The tragedy has rattled Ghana’s political and military leadership. Tributes poured in from across party lines, with opposition leaders joining government officials in calling the crash “a national loss.” Communities in the Ashanti Region also held vigils to remember the victims. This is the deadliest aviation accident in Ghana since the 2012 Allied Air cargo crash near Kotoka International Airport, which claimed 10 lives.
