A dark cloud hangs over the Western Region as it grapples with the confirmation that all three crew members of Wednesday’s fatal military helicopter crash were personnel of the Takoradi Air Force Base.

Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, who led a solemn delegation to console grieving families, revealed that the crew—Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala (pilot), Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampedu (co-pilot), and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah (flight technician)—were all based in Takoradi.

“The whole country is grieving, but particularly the Western Region. We have three of the crew; all the crew members happen to come from here, from the Air Force Base of Takoradi, and so we have been hit directly by this unfortunate accident,” he said after visiting the family of Flying Officer Twum-Ampedu, whose wife, Naval Lieutenant Ewuradwoa Kumi-Kyeremah, serves as a psychologist with the 2-Garrison.

The helicopter crash, which occurred in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region, claimed eight lives—including two Cabinet Ministers and senior security officials—while en route to Obuasi on official duty.

Flag Officer Commanding the Western Naval Command, Commodore Samuel Ayelazono, described the tragedy as one of the most painful in recent memory.

“This is a very difficult one, and every comfort is required to strengthen us to enable us to go through this difficulty,” he stated during the condolence visit.

The full list of victims has since been confirmed by Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, who called the incident a “national tragedy.” The victims include:

1. Dr. Edward Omane Boamah – Minister for Defence
2. Dr. Alhaji Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed – MP for Tamale Central and Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation
3. Alhaji Muniru Mohammed – Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator
4. Dr. Samuel Sarpong – Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress
5. Samuel Aboagye – Former Parliamentary Candidate
6. Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala – Pilot
7. Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampedu – Co-pilot
8. Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah – Flight technician

In honour of the fallen, the Chief of Staff has ordered that national flags fly at half-mast. Investigations are still ongoing to determine the exact cause of the crash.

The Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter had departed Accra at 09:12 GMT and was bound for Obuasi when it lost contact with radar. The Ghana Armed Forces initially launched a frantic search-and-rescue mission, but by afternoon, hopes were dashed as the wreckage was discovered and all on board confirmed dead.

The nation continues to mourn, but nowhere is the pain more intimate than in the Western Region—home to the crew who gave their lives in service to Ghana.