Nigeria Extends Condolences to Ghana After Helicopter Crash Claims Lives of Top Officials

The Federal Government of Nigeria has extended heartfelt condolences to Ghana following a tragic helicopter crash on Wednesday that claimed the lives of two serving cabinet ministers and other high-ranking officials.

Described by Ghanaian authorities as a “national tragedy,” the incident has reverberated across West Africa, prompting a response from Nigeria.

In a letter of condolence addressed to the Ghanaian Government, signed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, Nigeria stated:

This devastating incident has not only robbed Ghana of distinguished public servants but has also left a profound void in the West African region.”

The letter went on to describe Ghana’s Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, and the Minister of Environment, Science, and Technology, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, as individuals who would be “deeply missed” for their roles in advancing regional security and environmental sustainability.

Nigeria stands in solidarity with Ghana during this period of immense grief. We share in the sorrow of our brothers and sisters in Ghana and offer our prayers for the peaceful repose of the departed souls,” the statement added.

The Nigerian government also reaffirmed its commitment to deepening the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

It will be recalled that West Africa Weekly first reported the incident, which occurred on August 6, when a military helicopter with tail number GHF630 Z9 crashed into a dense forest near Obuasi, Ghana. The aircraft was en route from the capital, Accra, to an event focused on addressing illegal mining.

Among those confirmed dead were Ghana’s Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, and the Minister of Environment, Science, and Technology, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed.

Others in the crash include Ghana’s Acting National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Muniru Mohammed; Samuel Sarpong, former Ashanti Regional Minister and Vice-Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC); Samuel Aboagye, a former parliamentary candidate; and three military personnel: Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by Ghanaian military authorities. However, the timing of the incident has raised questions, particularly given Dr. Boamah’s reputation for efforts to pacify Bawku, a town in Ghana’s Upper East Region plagued by renewed ethnic violence since December 2024. He was also a key figure in Ghana’s engagement with the Confederation of Sahel States (comprising Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso) to address insecurity in the broader Sahel region.

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Kangmwa Gofwen

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