Overview

• A Z9 military helicopter carrying senior officials to an event on illegal mining disappeared from radar shortly after departing Accra at 9:00 a.m. en route to Obuasi
• All eight aboard, including Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Muniru Mohammed and NDC vice chairman Samuel Sarpong, are confirmed dead
• President John Mahama suspended all official duties, ordered flags at half-mast and declared seven days of national mourning
• The Ghana Air Force has grounded all Z9 helicopters pending a probe into fleet safety
• Investigators are examining whether mechanical failure, adverse weather or human error caused the crash