PREVIEW
As the nation mourns, no clear evidence has emerged to explain what brought the helicopter down
Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed were among eight people killed on 6 August when a military helicopter crashed in the central Ashanti region.
The helicopter, which crashed into dense forest, was taking the ministers to a meeting to tacklle illegal mining. Though the cause of the crash remains unclear, witnesses reported fog and wet conditions.
Aside from the personal tragedy, the crash also robs President John Dramani Mahama of two of his closest allies in government. Boamah served as presidential spokesman and communications minister in his first presidential term. His book on former president John Atta Mills, under whom he served as a deputy minister, is due to be published in the coming months (AC Vol 66 No 10, Economic green shoots lift Mahama’s first 100 days). Muhammed, meanwhile, was a deputy minister in the information and trade and industry ministries between 2013 and 2017.
Tackling Illegal small-scale mining, known as ‘galamsey’, is one of the Mahama government’s main priorities, though his administration has been accused of lacking a clear strategy on the issue (Dispatches, 21/1/25, An early challenge for President Mahama).
Mahama has appointed Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson and Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Kofi Armah Buah to take over the defence and environment porfolios as acting ministers, in addition to their existing roles.
Copyright © Africa Confidential 2026
https://www.africa-confidential.com
Prepared for Free Article on 12/05/2026 at 04:00. Authorized users may download, save, and print articles for their own use, but may not further disseminate these articles in their electronic form without express written permission from Africa Confidential / Asempa Limited. Contact subscriptions@africa-confidential.com.