Sierra Leone’s President Maada Bio visits Ghana to mourn victims of helicopter crash

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio has arrived in Accra to express solidarity with President John Dramani Mahama and the people of Ghana following the tragic military helicopter crash that claimed eight lives, including two senior cabinet ministers.

President Bio’s visit on Friday, August 8, is a powerful gesture of regional support as Ghana mourns the loss of Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, among other victims.

The fatal crash occurred on August 6, in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region on Wednesday, after a Ghana Armed Forces Z-9 helicopter transporting the officials to Obuasi lost contact with air traffic control and vanished from radar.

Also perishing in the crash were:

Alhaji Muniru Mohammed – Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator
Dr. Samuel Sarpong – National Vice Chairman of the NDC
Samuel Aboagye – Former parliamentary candidate
Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala
Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu
Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah

In the wake of the tragedy, preparations are underway for a state funeral scheduled for Friday, August 15. Due to the condition of the bodies, samples have been sent to South Africa for DNA testing to aid identification.