Ghana’s Defence Minister, Edward Omane Boamah, has died in a tragic military helicopter crash alongside four other senior officials and three Air Force crew members, the government announced on Wednesday.
The crash, which occurred during a military flight, also claimed the life of Environment, Science and Technology Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed. The incident has been described as a national tragedy by the government.
Addressing the press, President John Mahama’s Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, said, “The president and government extend our condolences and sympathies to the families of our comrades and the servicemen who died in service to the country.”
Authorities have not yet released details on what caused the fatal crash, though the military confirmed earlier that radar contact had been lost with the Z9 Air Force helicopter prior to the incident.
Boamah, who previously served as Communications Minister, was appointed Defence Minister in January following Mahama’s return to office. His tenure was marked by growing security challenges, including the rising threat of extremist groups from the Sahel region.
Ghana, like other coastal West African nations, has faced increasing security pressures as Islamist militants from Burkina Faso and Mali continue to push south. Internally, tensions over chieftaincy in Ghana’s northeast have also led to recent outbreaks of violence, including attacks on schools.
Boamah’s untimely death leaves a significant gap in the country’s defence leadership at a time when Ghana’s security landscape is growing more complex.
Government flags have been lowered to half-mast as the nation mourns the loss of the fallen officials.
The post Ghana’s Defence Minister, Four Others Die In Military Helicopter Crash appeared first on Arise News.
