Military Chopper Crash: Zongo Magajia Demands Urgent Probe
By: Nana Kwasi Roka
The Greater Accra Regional Zongo Women Caucus Leader, Hajia Lami Ibrahim, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to urgently establish a high-level committee to thoroughly investigate the tragic military helicopter crash that claimed the lives of eight people, including the Minister for Defence, Dr Omane Boamah, and the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Hon. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed.
The fatal crash occurred earlier today when a Ghana Armed Forces helicopter, carrying the two ministers and other officials, went down shortly after takeoff on its way to Obuasi in the Ashanti Region for an official assignment. Eyewitness accounts suggest the helicopter experienced mechanical difficulties mid-flight and attempted an emergency landing before bursting into flames. All eight occupants perished on the spot.
The Ghana Armed Forces are yet to provide a full account of what led to the crash but initial suspicions point to a possible technical failure.
Hajia Lami Ibrahim, reacting to the disaster, expressed her grief and called the event a “dark moment in the nation’s history.” She questioned whether due diligence was done before the helicopter was cleared for flight and called for accountability from all agencies responsible for aircraft maintenance and safety checks.
“It is difficult to understand how a military helicopter carrying such high-profile officials could crash if proper checks were done. What did the technicians examine before clearing it for flight?” she questioned.
She emphasized the need for President Mahama to set up an independent, credible committee composed of aviation experts, military investigators and external observers to uncover the real cause of the crash.
“The country deserves full disclosure. The families of these gallant leaders deserve to know the truth. Let’s not treat this as just another accident – we must dig deep and hold anyone found culpable accountable,” Hajia Lami urged.
She also appealed for national unity in this moment of sorrow and encouraged Ghanaians to pray for the bereaved families.
Meanwhile, tributes have begun pouring in from political leaders, civil society groups and ordinary Ghanaians, as the nation mourns the loss of two prominent ministers and six other distinguished individuals who died in the line of duty.
