JUST IN: Eight Dead in Ghana Military Helicopter Crash, Including Two Senior Ministers

Two senior Ghanaian government ministers and six others have died in a military helicopter crash in the Ashanti region, in what officials are calling a national tragedy. Ghana’s Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Minister of Environment, Science and Technology Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed were among those on board the aircraft when it went down on Wednesday.

Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff to President John Mahama, confirmed the fatalities at a press conference, stating that three additional government officials and three members of the Ghana Air Force also perished in the crash. The Z9 military helicopter, which was carrying a total of eight people — five passengers and three crew members — reportedly lost radar contact before the crash. Authorities have not yet released the names of the other victims or disclosed the purpose of the flight.

Calling the incident a “national tragedy,” Debrah expressed the government’s deep sorrow, saying, “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.”

Emergency responders are currently at the crash site conducting recovery operations. The Z9 aircraft, frequently used by the Ghana Air Force for transport and medical evacuation, was last tracked over an undisclosed location before all communication with air traffic control was lost. While the cause of the crash remains under investigation, initial reports suggest technical failure or adverse weather conditions could be factors.