Ghana defense, environment ministers, 6 others die in military helicopter crash

ACCRA — Ghana's defense and environment ministers died in a military helicopter crash on Wednesday in the southern Ashanti region along with three other officials and three air force crew, the government said.

Julius Debrah, President John Mahama's chief of staff, told a press conference that the crash in which Defense Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment, Science and Technology Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed were killed was a national tragedy.

"The president and government extend our condolences and sympathies to the families of our comrades and the servicemen who died in service to the country," Debrah said.

Earlier Ghana's armed forces said radar contact had been lost with a Z9 air force helicopter. — Reuters