Mahama Appoints Interim Ministers to Replace Omane Boamah, Murtala Mohammed
- President John Mahama has selected ministers to oversee the defence and environment portfolios temporarily
- This follows the recent deaths of the respective ministers, Edward Omane Boamah and Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed
- The high-ranking officials were killed in a helicopter crash on their way to an event in the Ashanti Region on August 6
President John Mahama has appointed Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson to serve as acting Defence Minister, while Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah will temporarily oversee the Environment, Science and Technology portfolio.
This follows the tragic deaths of the ministers for Defence and Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Edward Omane Boamah and Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, in the fatal helicopter crash on August 6.
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The presidency said Mahama has asked Forson and Buah to take on these additional responsibilities. No timeline was given for the appointments.
"President John Dramani Mahama has asked the Minister for Finance, Hon Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, to take on additional responsibility as Defence Minister.
The President has also asked the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon Emmanuel Kofi Armah Buah, to act as Minister for Environment, Science and Technology until further notice."
About the Ghana Army helicopter crash
The crash occurred in the Adansi Akrofuom District. The Ghana Armed Forces Z‑9 helicopter was en route to Obuasi. Authorities are now investigating the cause of the tragedy.
Emergency response teams rushed to the crash site following the incident, but the terrain meant it took hours to reach the site, with indigenes of the community the first to arrive.
An eyewitness at the helicopter crash site said he and others discovered six bodies after arriving at the scene.
According to him, the helicopter lost its balance after hitting a tree and a mountain before going down in flames in the thick forest in Adansi Akrofum.
Another eyewitness told the BBC the helicopter was flying at an 'unusually low altitude' and that the weather was bad. He said he heard the sound of the helicopter passing by, followed by a loud bang.
"That's when I realised that the helicopter had exploded. So I hurried to the place to see if I could find survivors."
Who else died in Obuasi helicopter crash?
The four other civilians who died in the crash were identified as Deputy National Security Coordinator Limuna Muniru, former Ashanti Regional Minister Dr Samuel Sarpong, and former Parliamentary Candidate for Obuasi East Samuel Aboagye.
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The army personnel who died in the crash were identified as Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
Their bodies were retrieved and flown to Accra late on August 6.
How is the Ghana government mourning the crash?
YEN.com.gh reported that Chief of Staff Julius Debrah announced that all national flags were to fly at half-mast until further notice in honour of those who perished in the helicopter crash.
Vice-President Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang was also expected to visit the bereaved families. President Mahama also declared three days of national mourning beginning from August 7, 2025.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
