Wednesday Helicopter Crash: Ghana Mourns Defence, Environment Ministers, Six Others

Accra: Flags are flying at half mast to mourn two Government Ministers, Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence, and Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation who died with six others in a military helicopter crash in the Adansi area of the Ashanti Region, Wednesday.According to Ghana News Agency, the other victims are Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator and former Minister for Food and Agriculture; and Dr Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and former Ashanti Regional Minister. The rest are Mr Samuel Aboagye, former NDC Parliamentary Candidate for Obuasi East; Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala; Flying Officer Malin Twum-Ampadu; and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.Mr. Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff at the Presidency, announced the incident at a press briefing at the Jubilee House in Accra, stating: 'I have the unpleasant duty, sadly, to announce a national tragedy involving the c rash of a military helicopter this morning around the Adansi area in Ashanti region.' He said President John Dramani Mahama and the Government extend their condolences and sympathies to the families of 'comrades and the servicemen who died in service to the country.''All flags are to fly at half-mast indefinitely,' he added. The victims were attending an anti-illegal mining event, known as the Responsible Co-operative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), in Obuasi. Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang was at the press briefing with some Ministers of State.