Tragic Helicopter Crash Claims Lives of Ghana's Top Officials

In a tragic incident, Ghana's Defence Minister, Edward Omane Boamah, was among the eight individuals who perished in a military helicopter crash on Wednesday. The government confirmed that four other officials and three airforce crew members were also lost in the catastrophe.

At a press conference, Julius Debrah, the chief of staff to President John Mahama, declared the crash a national tragedy. He extended condolences to the families, emphasizing the sacrifice of those who died in service. Authorities have yet to pinpoint the cause of the crash, with the armed forces reporting a loss of radar contact with the aircraft.

Boamah, previously Ghana's communications minister, had been appointed as the defence minister in January under President Mahama's administration. The new defence minister will face a challenging security environment, with threats from Islamist groups in the Sahel region pushing southwards, and internal conflicts in northeastern Ghana requiring attention.

(With inputs from agencies.)