Ghana’s Defence And Environment Ministers Killed In Military Helicopter Crash | World News
New Delhi: Ghana Defense Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammad were among the eight people who were killed in a military helicopter accident on Wednesday. The Ghana Air Force helicopter, which carries three crew members and five passengers, landed in a forested area in the South Ashanti region.
After the local television, Joy News released mobile phone images from the accident area and showed the wreckage of the wreck on the thick forest cover in the early hours of the day before the identities of the victims were verified.
After President John Mahama’s cursing in January, Boamah, who took responsibility for the Ministry of Defense, died with the 50 -year -old Muhammad, who served as Minister of Environment, Science and Technology. Muhammad was planned to participate in the ongoing United Nations Conference in Geneva, and a global treaty focused on negotiating plastic pollution.
According to local reports, the helicopter led to an event of illegal mining, an emergency environmental challenge in Ghana when he fell. Authorities confirmed that all individuals on board were killed.
“President and the government are extending our condolences and sympathy for the families of our comrades and the soldiers who died in service to the country,” President Julius Debr, the Chief of General Staff of the General Staff. He said.
Ghana Armed Forces said an investigation was initiated to determine the cause of the accident containing the Z9 helicopter. In the early hours of Wednesday, the military officials, shortly after leaving Accra at 09:00 (0900 GMT), shortly after leaving Accra, the plane had left the radar. He was going to the town of Obuasi, northwest of the capital.
Among the others killed in the accident were Ghana’s National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Muniru Mohammed and former Minister of Agriculture and Samuel Sarpong, the former Minister of Agriculture and Vice President of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Boamah led the Ministry of Defense at a time when Ghana was encountered in increasing security along the northern border with Burkina Faso, where jihadist activity increased. Although Ghana did not experience direct spread of extreme violence in neighboring Togo and Benin, analysts warned weapon smuggling and militant infiltration.
According to the profession, Boamah, a medical doctor, has previously played a few key government roles, including MEHAMA’s 2012-2017 Presidency and Deputy Minister of Environment.
Minister Muhammad was located in the forefront of the war against Ghana’s illegal gold mining, known as “Galamsey”. The problem significantly affected cocoa production and was an important theme during the election campaign that brought Mahama to power last year.
This year, he founded the Ghana Ghana Golden Board and pointed out the government’s commitment to illegal mining, imposed a ban on foreign participation in local gold trade. United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) General Manager Inger Andersen said in a statement from Geneva that Muhammad was described as a “determined environmentalist” and “deeply respected” by both African and international colleagues.
Only weeks ago, Muhammad was elected to the African Ministers Conference (uncle), the environment in Nairobi.
His condolences were also expressed by the African Union and Ecowas leaders.
When Boamah recently worked to strengthen relations with Ghana Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, Ouagadougou pioneered a diplomatic mission, now three countries ruled by the military Juntas, who has removed themselves from Ecowas.
In addition, former president John Atta, who passed away in 2012, was preparing to publish a book titled “A peaceful man in African democracy”, which was a praise of Mills.
In response to the tragedy, President Mahama suspended all official activities for the rest of the week. The presidency also declared three -day national mourning from Thursday, and in the meantime, all flags will fly on half a pole.
