Ghanaian President John Mahama has promised a full probe into Wednesday’s helicopter crash that killed two government ministers and six other people.
A military aircraft crashed in the central Ashanti region, killing Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment, Science, and Technology Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, both 50.
Speaking in a televised address to the nation, Mahama said the crash represented “a personal loss” for him.
Mahama confirmed that the flight data and cockpit voice recorders – often referred to as the “black boxes” – had been retrieved and that the armed forces had “initiated a full and transparent investigation”.
“I shared a bond with many of those who died. Our nation is grieving,” Mahama told Ghanaians.
The Z9 helicopter, which was carrying three crew members and five passengers, crashed in a deep forest while flying from Accra to Obuasi for an event aimed at combating illegal mining. There were no survivors.
The bodies of the eight victims have been collected from the accident site, and samples have been transferred to South Africa for forensic identification and examination.
Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, Ghana’s Deputy National Security Coordinator and former Agriculture Minister, died, as did Samuel Sarpong, Vice-Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress party.
A state funeral for the victims will be held on August 15, according to AFP.
The cause of the crash has yet to be established by authorities.
Ghana’s meteorological ministry predicted abnormally cold weather in August, with recent rainfall and light showers creating hazy conditions in several forest areas. Local farmers around the crash scene reported morning fog as the helicopter passed overhead.
According to one eyewitness, the helicopter was flying at an “unusually low altitude” and in severe weather.
He claimed to have heard the helicopter pass by, followed by a “loud sound” and then a “bang”.
“That’s when I realised that the helicopter had exploded. So I hurried to the place to see if I could find survivors,” he said
