By Hamilton Nwosu
In a shocking turn of events, Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama narrowly avoided disaster when a military helicopter carrying eight passengers, including two cabinet ministers, crashed on Wednesday, August 6, 2025.
The tragic incident claimed all lives on board, but Mahama’s last-minute change of plans spared him from what could have been a catastrophic fate.
Reports emerging on Thursday revealed that Mahama was initially slated to attend the launch of the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) in Obuasi, an initiative aimed at combating illegal mining, known locally as “galamsey.”
Promotional materials for the event prominently featured the President’s name, raising public anticipation for his presence.
However, Mahama opted to attend the 1st National Pastors and Spouses Prayer Retreat at the Pentecost Convention Centre in Gomoa Fetteh, Central Region, on the same day.
Instead, he delegated his Minister of Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, and Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, to represent him at the Obuasi event.
Tragically, the Z9 military helicopter carrying these officials, along with six others, crashed in a dense forest in the Adansi Amrofuom District while en route. There were no survivors.
The New Diplomat had reported that the crash claimed the lives of prominent figures, including Boamah, a medical doctor and former communications minister under Mahama’s 2012-2017 administration, and Mohammed, a key figure in the fight against illegal mining.
Other victims included Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Samuel Sarpong, Vice-Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC); Samuel Aboagye, former parliamentary candidate; and three military crew members: Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Malin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
The Ghanaian Armed Forces reported that the helicopter, which took off from Accra just after 9:00 AM, lost contact with radar while heading to Obuasi.
In response to the tragedy, President Mahama declared three days of national mourning starting Thursday, August 7, and ordered all national flags to be flown at half-mast.
He suspended all official activities for the week, expressing deep sorrow for the loss of “comrades and servicemen who died in service to the country.”
