President John Mahama has announced the establishment of a high-level Investigative Board of Inquiry to uncover the cause of Wednesday’s tragic military helicopter crash.

The crash killed two cabinet ministers and six others in the Adansi Akrofuom district of the Ashanti Region.

In a solemn nationwide address on Thursday night, the President assured Ghanaians that the Ghana Armed Forces would lead a full and transparent investigation into the crash.

“As we mourn, questions about the cause of this tragedy are natural and important,” he said. “I want to assure the families and the nation that the Ghana Armed Forces has initiated a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances of this crash.”

According to the President, the flight data and cockpit voice recorders have already been recovered to aid the inquiry.

All eight bodies have also been retrieved, and the government is in active contact with the families regarding identification and burial arrangements.

An inter-denominational state funeral has been scheduled for Friday, August 15, at the Black Star Square in Accra. In the lead-up to that, Books of Condolence will be opened at key locations across the capital from Sunday, August 10 to Thursday, August 14.

These include the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ghana Armed Forces Headquarters, the National Democratic Congress headquarters, and NADMO’s head office.

President Mahama called for national unity and compassion in this moment of sorrow, urging citizens to look beyond political divides.

“In this moment of national grief, let us remember that we are, above all, Ghanaians – united not just by nationality but by shared hope, shared humanity, and now, shared sorrow,” he said.

“This is not a time for division, speculation, or political point-scoring. It is a moment for strength, for empathy, and for the enduring Ghanaian spirit.”

“To the families, to the Ghana Armed Forces, to the Ministries and Departments that have lost dedicated staff, and to the National Democratic Congress, which mourns the passing of valued members, may you find strength in their memory and their legacy.”

A special memorial event, titled Evening of Reflections, will also be held on Saturday, August 9, at the forecourt of the State House in honour of the fallen officers.

The crash involved a Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter that was en route to Obuasi for the launch of the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme, a government initiative to combat illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) and promote responsible mining practices.

The victims included:

• Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence
• Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology
• Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna, Former Minister for Food and Agriculture and Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator
• Dr. Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress
• Samuel Aboagye, Former Parliamentary Candidate
• Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Pilot
• Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu
• Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah

In honour of the victims, the government has declared a three-day national mourning period starting August 7.

Flags will fly at half-mast nationwide during the mourning period.