8 people die, including two ministers, after helicopter crash in Ghana

Accra.- Eight people, including two ministers, died this Wednesday when a military helicopter crashed in the Ghanaian region of Ashanti, in the center of the country, reported the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah.

The accident took place in the Adansi Akrofuom district, where the aircraft, a Chinese military helicopter model Z-9, crashed for reasons still unknown. As Debrah detailed in a press conference, the victims include the Defense Minister, Edward Omane Boamah, and the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed.

Also deceased were the acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Muniru Mohammed; former Member of Parliament Samuel Aboagye; and the vice chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Sarpong. The Ghana Armed Forces had previously confirmed that search and assessment efforts were underway after contact was lost with the aircraft shortly after taking off from Accra at 09:12 GMT.

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Debrah described what happened as a "national tragedy" and announced that flags will fly at half-mast as a sign of mourning. The Chief of Staff also conveyed the condolences of the Ghanaian President, John Dramani Mahama, to the families of the deceased.