By Daniel Bampoe
New details have emerged revealing how two prominent political figures — Minister for the Interior, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, Interior Minister and GoldBod Chief Executive and NDC National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi — narrowly escaped being on board the military helicopter that crashed in the Ashanti Region on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, killing all eight occupants.
The tragic crash claimed the lives of Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Environment, Science and Technology Minister and MP for Tamale Central Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, and six others, sending shockwaves across the nation.
The group was on an official assignment to Obuasi to oversee government efforts in the fight against illegal mining (galamsey) when the Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter crashed into a forest near Sikaman in the Adansi Akrofuom District.
Speaking on TV3’s NewDay programme, Deputy Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), Fuseini Donkor, revealed that Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak was originally scheduled to be among the five civilian passengers on board.
However, a last-minute intervention by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson saved his life.
“But for our Finance Minister, Muntaka would have been on the helicopter,” Donkor disclosed.
“He was set to go with Dr. Omane Boamah. But Ato insisted Muntaka stay in Accra for an urgent immigration meeting. That’s how he was pulled off the flight.”
In a tragic twist, the seat vacated by Muntaka was taken up by Dr. Murtala Mohammed, who was then added to the passenger manifest.
Also narrowly missing the fatal journey was Sammy Gyamfi, who was initially slated to be part of the entourage.
According to Donkor, Sammy Gyamfi’s exclusion was due to the aircraft’s strict five-passenger limit. “Sammy Gyamfi was supposed to be on that helicopter too,” Donkor revealed. “But due to weight and capacity constraints, he was dropped.”
The crash left no survivors. In addition to the two ministers, other high-profile casualties are:
Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Limuna, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress and former Kumasi Mayor and Samuel Aboagye, former NDC parliamentary candidate for Obuasi East and a deputy NADMO Coordinator.
The crew comprising Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala; Flying Officer Manean Twum Ampadu and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah were all perished.
President John Dramani Mahama has declared a period of national mourning, with flags flying at half-mast.
A funeral planning committee has been constituted, while investigations are underway into the cause of the crash.
Aviation safety protocols within the Ghana Armed Forces are also under scrutiny following emerging reports of possible pilot inexperience and protocol breaches.
Many have described the survival of Muntaka and Sammy Gyamfi as nothing short of miraculous, with political observers noting how mere timing and circumstance shielded them from one of the darkest tragedies in Ghana’s recent aviation history.
Speaking to the press later, Muntaka, visibly shaken, said: “It could have been me. I still can’t believe it. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of my fallen brothers.”
Meanwhile, calls for a transparent and thorough probe into the incident continue to grow as the nation struggles to come to terms with the sudden and devastating loss of eight dedicated public servants.
