Keypoints:
- Eight killed in Ashanti helicopter crash
- Two cabinet ministers among the victims
- Probe with US experts under way
INVESTIGATIONS have been launched in Ghana into a military helicopter crash that killed eight people, including two senior government ministers.
Ministers among dead in Ashanti tragedy
Defence Minister Edward Kofi Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed were among those on board when the helicopter went down in the Ashanti region earlier this month.
The crash is regarded as one of Ghana’s worst air disasters in more than a decade. The aircraft, a Z-9 utility helicopter used for troop transport and medical evacuation, had departed from Accra on a flight to Obuasi, a gold-mining hub, before disappearing from radar.
Inquiry team given 30 days
On Monday, the defence ministry confirmed that a board of inquiry had started its work. According to the Ghana News Agency, the panel has been tasked with submitting its report within 30 days.
A military statement said the team includes technical experts from the Ghana Air Force and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority. The group will also be assisted by investigators from the US Air Force and may bring in other specialists if needed.
Transparency and safety at centre of probe
Officials said the involvement of international partners underscores Ghana’s commitment to a transparent and thorough investigation. Aviation experts note that determining whether mechanical faults, weather conditions or human error caused the crash will be crucial to improving flight safety standards.
National shock and calls for answers
The deaths of two ministers have sent shockwaves through President John Mahama’s administration and the wider public. The tragedy has intensified debate over military aircraft safety and underscored the risks faced by officials travelling across Ghana.
Authorities have pledged to make the inquiry findings public, saying the priority is to prevent a repeat of such a disaster.
