Ghana: décès des ministres de la Défense et de l'Environnement dans un accident d'hélicoptère
Ghana's defense and environment ministers died in a helicopter crash in southern Ghana on Wednesday, the presidency announced, hours after the military reported the disappearance of a plane carrying five passengers and three crew members.
Edward Omane Boamah, appointed Minister of Defense earlier this year after President John Mahama's inauguration in January, and Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, were among the victims.
All people on board were killed, authorities confirmed, while Ghanaian media reported that the helicopter was heading to an event on illegal mining, a major environmental problem in the West African country.
"The President and the government extend their condolences and solidarity to the families of our comrades and soldiers who fell during their service to the Nation," said Julius Debrah.
Local television station Joy News broadcast cellphone footage from the crash site earlier in the day, showing smoking debris in the middle of a heavily wooded area.
Mr. Boamah headed the defense ministry at a time of increased jihadist activity on Ghana's northern border with Burkina Faso.
Although Ghana has so far escaped the spread of the jihadist insurgency raging across the Sahel, unlike its neighbors Togo and Benin, experts warn of increased arms trafficking and the infiltration of groups from Burkina Faso using Ghanaian territory as a rear base.
As Ghana strengthens its diplomatic relations with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, now ruled by military juntas that have broken away from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Edward Omane Boamah led a delegation to Ouagadougou last May.
He was preparing to publish a book entitled "A Man of Peace in an African Democracy," dedicated to former President John Atta Mills, who died in 2012.
A medical doctor by training, Mr. Boamah held several positions in the Ghanaian government, including that of Minister of Communications during Mahama's previous term (2012-2017).
For his part, Mr. Muhammed, the environment minister, was in office at a time when the country was battling the scourge of illegal and informal gold mining, which was devastating farmland and contaminating water.
- flags at half-mast -
The creation earlier this year of the Ghana Gold Board, the institution now responsible for regulating the gold sector, and the ban on foreigners participating in the local gold trade, were seen as the first concrete steps taken by the new administration to regulate this activity.
The victims also included Alhaji Muniru Muhammad, deputy national security coordinator and former minister of agriculture, and Samuel Sarpong, vice-chairman of President Mahama's National Democratic Congress (NDC) party.
The Ghanaian Air Force reported earlier Wednesday that a military helicopter disappeared from radar shortly after taking off from Accra at around 9:00 a.m. (local time and GMT) heading for Obuasi, northwest of the capital.
A statement indicated the presence of three crew members and five passengers, without specifying at that time the identity of the occupants.
Flags will be flown at half-mast, announced Julius Debrah.
The presidency said John Mahama had suspended all official activities for the day.
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Solidarité
Y a problème. Y a problème
Nos condoléances sincères au Ghana et à leur famille respective.
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