The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Abdulla Khaleel, has conveyed condolences following the deaths of Ghana’s Defence Minister, Environment Minister and other senior officials in a military aircraft crash.

Minister Dr Khaleel said he learned with sudden shock and deep sadness of the deaths of Ghanaian Defence Minister Edward Omane Boermer, Environment Minister Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed and other officials in the incident.

He extended his deepest sympathies, on behalf of the Government and the people of the Maldives, as well as in his personal capacity, to the government and people of Ghana, describing the tragedy as a time of national grief.

Ghanaian authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the crash, although the Ghanaian military has confirmed that an investigation has been launched. The country’s meteorological agency had forecast unusually cold weather for August, with recent rains and light showers creating foggy conditions in several forested areas. Local farmers near the crash site reported seeing morning fog as the helicopter passed overhead.

An eyewitness reported that the aircraft appeared to be flying at an unusually low altitude in poor weather conditions. He stated that he heard the sound of the helicopter, followed by a loud noise and an explosion. He added that he proceeded to the scene in the hope of finding survivors, but upon arrival realised there was no one left to rescue.

According to reports, this is the deadliest of three separate emergency incidents involving Ghana Air Force helicopters in recent years.