In the wake of Wednesday’s catastrophic military helicopter crash at Adansi in the Ashanti Region, the remains of all eight victims—including two Cabinet Ministers—have been airlifted to South Africa for forensic examination.
A specially deployed jet departed the Kotoka International Airport in Accra on Thursday, carrying the charred remains of Defence Minister Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, and six others who perished in the national tragedy.
Due to the extent of the burns sustained in the crash, authorities say visual identification of the deceased was impossible. Forensic experts have thus recommended DNA testing and advanced forensic procedures to ensure accurate identification of each victim before the final funeral arrangements are made.
A forensic officer from the Ghana Police Service’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is onboard the flight to supervise and coordinate the forensic process. Upon arrival in South Africa on Thursday night, the examination will begin immediately under the supervision of internationally accredited forensic specialists.
A high-level government delegation—including ministers of state and Members of Parliament—was present at the airport to pay their respects and observe departure formalities. The solemn ceremony was conducted with full military and diplomatic protocol.
The decision to transport the remains abroad underscores the gravity of the disaster and the government’s commitment to handling the matter with the highest standards of dignity and scientific accuracy.
Families of the deceased have been briefed, and grief counselling teams have been dispatched to support them through the waiting period for final identification and repatriation.
The helicopter crash, which has plunged the nation into mourning, claimed the lives of eight public servants on a government mission to launch a new sustainable mining initiative in Obuasi.
The eight persons who died were Defence Minister Edward Kofi Omane Boamah and Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Alhaji Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed.
The others were Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Dr. Samuel Sarpong, First Vice-Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and former Ashanti Regional Minister; Samuel Aboagye, Deputy Director-General of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and former Parliamentary Candidate for Obuasi East; Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala; Flying Officer Mane-Twum Ampadu; and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
