In the wake of a devastating military helicopter crash on August 6, 2025, which claimed the lives of Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, President John Dramani Mahama has made swift interim cabinet appointments. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Finance Minister, will now also serve as acting Defence Minister, while Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, steps in as acting Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister—each maintaining their existing portfolios alongside the new responsibilities.
The Ghana Armed Forces confirmed that the Z‑9 helicopter vanished from radar shortly after departing Accra and later crashed in the Ashanti region. All eight people on board, including the two ministers, perished in the incident. The government has declared three days of national mourning, ordered flags flown at half‑mast, and suspended all official activities for the remainder of the week.
These urgent appointments are vital to maintaining governance continuity amid national grief and in the absence of key leadership. As Ghana mourns its losses, crucial investigations into the crash remain underway to ascertain the cause and prevent future tragedies.
