President John Dramani Mahama has appointed Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson as Acting Minister for Defence following the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the life of the substantive Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah.
The President has also directed Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah to assume additional responsibility as Acting Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, after the passing of Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, who previously held the portfolio.
These interim appointments were announced in a statement issued on Thursday, August 7, 2025, by Presidential Spokesperson and Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu.
The statement explained that the changes were necessitated by the unfortunate deaths of the two cabinet ministers and six others in a military helicopter crash en route to Obuasi.
Meanwhile, President Mahama has suspended all public engagements and official duties for the rest of the week as the country enters a period of mourning. A three-day national mourning period has been declared, beginning Thursday, August 7, 2025.
As part of the national observance, all national flags have been ordered to fly at half-mast across the country until further notice.
It noted, “President John Dramani Mahama has asked the Minister for Finance, Hon Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, to take on additional responsibility as Defence Minister.
The President has also asked the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon Emmanuel Kofi Armah Buah, to act as Minister for Environment, Science and Technology until further notice.”
The Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter, which departed Accra at 09:12 GMT on Wednesday, August 6, crashed in a remote forest area near Adansi Akrofuom in the Ashanti Region.
All eight individuals on board perished in the incident. Alongside the two ministers, the victims included Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Dr. Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The rest Mr. Samuel Aboagye, a former parliamentary candidate; and three military officers—Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
The deaths have sparked an outpouring of grief both locally and internationally.
Tributes have poured in from several international countries to mourn with Ghana.
The government has described the incident as a national tragedy of immense proportions and is coordinating further steps to honour the memories of the fallen.
Below is a copy of the statement
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
