Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, has confirmed the identities of all eight persons on board the Ghana Air Force Z9 helicopter, which lost contact with radar shortly after taking off from Accra at 9:12 a.m. en route to Obuasi.
He also confirmed the deaths of the eight individuals, including two serving ministers of state, in the military helicopter crash that occurred on Wednesday morning in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region.
Also Read: Breaking: Military helicopter goes missing after suspected crash in Ashanti Region
The deceased include:
- Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah – Minister for Defence
- Alhaji Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed – Minister for Environment, Science and Technology
- Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Lemuna – Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator
- Dr. Samuel Sarpong – Vice Chairman, NDC
- Mr. Samuel Aboagye – Former Parliamentary Candidate
- Squadron Leader Peter Anala– Pilot
- Flying Officer Twum Ampadu
- Sergeant Ernest Addo
Helicopter crash
Reports from the crash site indicate that the bodies were burnt beyond recognition, complicating identification efforts. Rescue and emergency teams have since secured the site, and investigations are currently underway to determine the cause of the accident.
In a statement issued earlier by the Department of Public Relations of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), authorities indicated that all efforts were being made to establish contact with the aircraft after it went off radar.
Sadly, those efforts have now ended in tragedy.