The Deputy Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), Fuseini Donkor, has revealed how Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, narrowly escaped being on board the ill-fated helicopter that crashed near Sikaman in the Ashanti Region.

The incident claimed the lives of several senior government officials on Wednesday, August 6, including the Minister of Defence, Edward Omane Boamah; and the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed.

The other deceased persons include Muniru Mohammed, acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Samuel Aboagye, a former NDC Parliamentary Candidate for Obuasi East; and Samuel Sarpong, a Vice Chairman of the NDC and a former Kumasi Mayor.

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) named the crew members as Squadron Leader Peter Baafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.

• Read also: Defence Minister, Environment Minister, 6 others confirmed dead in military helicopter crash

Speaking on TV3 NewDay on Thursday, August 7, 2025, Mr Donkor revealed that Muntaka was originally the fifth passenger on the flight alongside Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah.

However, Finance Minister Dr Ato Forson insisted that Muntaka should stay in Accra for an urgent meeting with immigration officials.

“But for our Finance Minister, Muntaka would have been on the helicopter,” Mr Donkor recounted. “Muntaka was the fifth person on board with Dr Omane Boamah; then Ato dragged him out. Ato said, ‘No, you can’t go because we have a meeting with the immigration guys, and I need you there.’”

At that point, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Alhaji Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, replaced Muntaka on the helicopter.

Mr Donkor also disclosed that the Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod, Sammy Gyamfi, was initially scheduled to be on the flight, but the helicopter’s capacity restricted the number of passengers to five.

"Sammy Gyamfi was also supposed to be on board... but the helicopter could only take five passengers," he said.

The eight occupants of the helicopter died after the aircraft plunged into a forest the previous day while travelling to an event in Obuasi.

They were heading to a national assignment when the accident occurred.

The deceased persons of the tragic crash are:

• Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence
• Alhaji Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Minister for Environment
• Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator
• Dr Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)
• Mr Samuel Aboagye, Former Parliamentary Candidate
• Squadron Leader Peter Bafimi Anala
• Flying Officer Twum Ampadu
• Sergeant Ernest Addo

The Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, announced the tragic news at a press conference and directed that all national flags be flown at half-mast in honour of the victims.