Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has cancelled all his scheduled engagements and activities until the end of the week following yesterday's national tragedy in which eight lives were lost in a military helicopter crash, the Ghana News Agency (GNA) reported, BTA reported.
In a statement, the Minister of Government Communications and Presidential Spokesperson Felix Kwakie Ofosu noted that the decision reflected the government's immediate response in tribute to the victims. The document declares three days of national mourning, starting today.
The Chief of Staff to the President, Julius Debra, has ordered all flags to be flown at half-mast until further notice.
Yesterday morning, a Z-9 military helicopter of the Ghana Armed Forces disappeared from radar after taking off from Accra and crashed in the Adansi-Akrofuom area of Ashanti region. The victims are the Minister of Defense, Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boama, the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, the Deputy Coordinator for National Security, Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, the Deputy Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress, Dr. Samuel Sarpong, and a former MP, Samuel Aboage. The others are Pilot and Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Second Officer Manaem Twum Ampadu and Sergeant Ernest Ado Mensah.
The delegation on board had travelled to the town of Obuasi to launch the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme, which aims to empower small-scale miners through cooperative structures and training. As the nation mourns, international organisations and heads of state have sent their condolences to the country.