The aircraft involved in the crash has been identified as a Z-9EH military helicopter
A helicopter crash has killed all eight people on board, including the nation’s defence and environment ministers, according to Ghana’s government.
Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed were among the victims of the crash in the southern Ashanti region of the country, said Julius Debrah, chief of staff to President John Mahama, on Wednesday.
“The president and the government extend their condolences and solidarity to the families of our comrades and soldiers who fell in their service to the nation,” said Debrah.
Also among the victims were Alhaji Mohammad Muniru Limuna, deputy national security coordinator and former minister of agriculture, and Samuel Sarpong, vice chairman of Mahama’s National Democratic Congress (NDC) party.
Boamah was helming Ghana’s defence ministry at a time when armed groups across its northern border in Burkina Faso had become increasingly restive.
While Ghana has so far avoided a rebel spillover from the Sahel – unlike neighbours Togo and Benin – observers have warned of increased arms trafficking and of fighters from Burkina Faso crossing the porous border to use Ghana as a rear base.
A medical doctor by training, Boamah’s career in government included stints as communications minister during Mahama’s previous 2012-2017 tenure. Before that, he was the deputy minister for the environment.
As Ghana has pursued increased diplomacy with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger – all ruled by military governments who have broken with the ECOWAS West African regional bloc – Boamah led a delegation to Ouagadougou in May.
He had been set to release a book titled, A Peaceful Man in an African Democracy, about former President John Atta Mills, who died in 2012.
The Ghanaian Armed Forces had reported earlier Wednesday that an air force helicopter had fallen off radar after taking off from Accra just after 9:00am (09:00 GMT). It had been headed towards the town of Obuasi, northwest of the capital.
The statement had said that three crew and five passengers were on board, without specifying at the time that the ministers were among them.
All flags were to be flown at half-staff, Debrah said, while the presidency said Mahama had cancelled his official activities for the day.
Z-9 EH
The Z-9C is a naval helicopter of Chinese origin. The Z-9C is based on the Z-9 utility helicopter, which in turn is a license produced version of the French Eurocopter Dauphin. The PLA Navy classifies the Z-9C as an anti-submarine, anti-ship and SAR helicopter.
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Capacity: 73 troops / 48 paratroops / 12 stretcher intensive care medevac / 27 stretcher medevac with 4 medical attendants
Maximum payload: 7,050 kg (15,543 lb) normal 9,250 kg (20,393 lb) overload
Length: 24.46 m (80 ft 3 in)
Wingspan: 25.81 m (84 ft 8 in)
Height: 8.66 m (28 ft 5 in)
Wing area: 59 m2 (640 sq ft)
Max takeoff weight: 21,000 kg (46,297 lb) normal 23,200 kg (51,147 lb) overload
Fuel capacity: 7,650 L (2,020 US gal; 1,680 imp gal) with optional in-flight refuelling probe
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127G turboprop engines
Performance
Cruise speed: 482 km/h (300 mph, 260 kn) at optimum altitude
Range: 1,555 km (966 mi, 840 nmi) normal payload, ISA, 45 minutes reserve at 460 m (1,509 ft) 1,277 km (793 mi; 690 nmi) max overload payload 4,587 km (2,850 mi; 2,477 nmi) normal MTOW, max fuel with 2,940 kg (6,482 lb) payload 2,148 km (1,335 mi; 1,160 nmi) overload MTOW, max fuel with 8,000 kg (17,637 lb) payload
Ferry range: 5,000 km (3,100 mi, 2,700 nmi)
Service ceiling: 4,125 m (13,533 ft) on one engine
Absolute ceiling: 9,145 m (30,003 ft)