A military helicopter crashed in Ghana on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, killing all eight people on board. Among the dead were two senior government ministers: Defense Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed.
The crash also claimed the lives of six other people, including the Vice-chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress party, a top national security advisor, and all four crew members.
The helicopter took off from Accra, Ghana’s capital, at 9:12 AM local time. It was heading northwest toward Obuasi, a gold mine in the Ashanti region. Shortly after entering the area, the helicopter lost contact with ground control and disappeared from radar. The wreckage was found in a remote forest area of the Adansi Amrofuom District in Ashanti.
The aircraft was a Z-9 utility helicopter, often used for transportation and medical evacuations. Footage and images circulating online showed the helicopter debris burning in the forest.
Local people gathered at the crash site, trying to help. The exact cause of the crash has not been determined. The Ghana Armed Forces and government have launched investigations to find out what happened.
Ghana’s Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, described the crash as a “national tragedy.” He expressed deep sorrow on behalf of President John Mahama and the government. Flags were ordered to be flown at half-mast across the country as a sign of mourning. Many people gathered at the late Defence Minister Boamah’s home and the ruling party’s headquarters in Accra to pay their respects.
Boamah was a respected leader who had held various government roles, including communications and environment minister, before becoming Defence Minister. He was involved in addressing security threats near Ghana’s northern borders.
The Environment Minister, Ibrahim Muhammed, was known for his efforts to fight illegal gold mining, which damages the environment and pollutes water sources in Ghana.
Other victims of the crash included Samuel Srpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress, and Muniru Mohammed, a top national security advisor, and former agriculture minister. All four crew members also died in the accident.
Ghana has experienced aviation accidents in the past. In 2014, a helicopter crash off the coast killed at least three people. In 2021, a cargo plane overran the runway in Accra and crashed into a bus, killing at least ten people. However, the country is generally considered among the safest in Africa for aviation.
The recent helicopter crash is one of the worst air disasters in Ghana in over a decade. Ghana’s government and people are mourning the loss of prominent leaders and dedicating efforts to learn from this tragedy. The investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the crash and prevent future accidents.
