A sombre atmosphere enveloped the ministries in Ghana on Thursday as the nation entered a three-day period of mourning declared by President John Dramani Mahama.
This nationwide grief follows a tragic helicopter crash in the Ashanti Region that claimed the lives of two ministers and six others.
The helicopter was transporting key officials, including Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, the Minister of Defence, and Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, to the launch of the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) in Obuasi.
The crash occurred on Wednesday, leaving the nation in shock and disbelief.
Upon hearing the devastating news, staff at the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology were thrown into profound sorrow.
By 3:30 p.m., the mood in the offices was heavy, marked by silence and a sense of loss. Many employees donned black attire and red armbands, traditional symbols of mourning in Ghana, while others openly wept as the weight of the tragedy settled in.
The national flag hung at half-mast at the ministry’s entrance, a poignant reminder of the loss. Inside, scheduled meetings were suspended, and the usual buzz of activity was replaced with hushed conversations and moments of reflection.
Staff members gathered in the main conference room, where management organised a meeting to officially announce the tragic news.
Outside, a crowd of onlookers formed, standing in solemn silence as they paid their respects.
Suweibatu Adam, the Chief Director of the ministry, was seen leaving the premises in tears, flanked by aides.
In a show of solidarity, ministry staff visited the homes of the deceased ministers to express their condolences. However, officials avoided media enquiries, seeking to maintain privacy during this painful time.
Those lost in the crash included several prominent figures: Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Limuna (acting Deputy National Security Coordinator), Samuel Sarpong (Second Vice Chairman of the NDC), and parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye. Also on board were military personnel: Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Amaning Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
The impact of the tragedy extended beyond the ministries, with clients arriving at the Ministry of Environment, Tourism, and Labour expressing disappointment due to the absence of senior officials.
In an unusual turn, local artisans quickly produced miniature portraits of the victims, creating a one-page calendar to commemorate their lives.
Yet, foot traffic remained sparse, with groups of people congregating to discuss the untimely deaths of Dr. Omane Boamah and Dr. Mohammed.
Typically bustling with activity, the roads linking Tema Station, the Foreign Affairs Ministry, and the Ghana News Agency were noticeably quiet.
Lunchtime usually sees a flurry of movement, but on this day, the streets were deserted, and nearby food joints reported a significant drop in customers.
While there was no scientific evidence linking the decreased activity to the tragic event, the unusual calm reflected the collective mourning of the nation. As the day came to a close, no ministers had reported to work, leaving a poignant reminder of the profound loss felt throughout Ghana.
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