The information coming in suggests the Environment Science and Technology Minister, Hon Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, boarded the GAF Z9 flight, as a last-minute replacement for the interior minister, Muntaka Mubarak.
According to a member of the ruling National Democratic Congress, Muntaka was to be on board with Dr Omane Boamah.
He narrated that Muntaka Mubarak was dragged off the helicopter by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson for an urgent meeting with the Immigration Service.
Speaking on TV3 NEW Day, the Deputy Director-General of the National Service Authority, Fuseini Donkor revealed, “Muntaka was the fifth person on board with Dr Omane Boamah, then Ato dragged him out. Ato said no because we have a meeting with the immigration guys, and I need you there.
He was supposed to go, but Murtala was not on the flight. Murtala was not on the flight. So when Ato insisted and dragged Muntaka out, that was when Murtala replaced him for the vacant seat, then Murtala replaced him. That was why people started mentioning his name when it happened”.
He added, “The recurrence of that National security threat has always been recurring at Obusai. This was actually going to lunch and take them away from the galamsey to a responsible kind of mining”.
The NDC man further revealed that Dr Sarpong also stepped in to replace the NDC National Chairman, Asiedu Nketia, with the party’s General Secretary, asking him to replace them.
He continued. “The party needed a representation, but then yesterday was the Generals’ off day as well so he didn’t go, and the general secretary was like Dr Sarpong, you are from Kumasi, you are just going home so let the car take the lead joined the Heli when they finished the program, the car will take you from Obuasi back to Kumasi. That was how Dr Sarpong was on board”.
According to him, Sammy Gyamfi was also supposed to be there because it was mining.
In addition, reports also suggest President John Dramani Mahama narrowly escaped the tragic military helicopter crash by attending an Assemblies of God 1st National Pastors and Spouses Prayer Retreat.
John Mahama was invited as a special guest of honour at the 1st National Pastors and Spouses Prayer Retreat, and was also expected to be at the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) in the Ashanti Region.
According to reports, the 1st National Pastors and Spouses Prayer Retreat was held at the Pentecost Convention Centre in Gomoa Fetteh, Central Region, and took place on the same day as the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme.
John Mahama was advertised on flyers and printed materials at the launch of the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) at Black Park, near the Obuasi Len Clay Sports Stadium in the Ashanti Region.
The Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme is formed part of the government’s fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
President Mahama, however, chose to attend the Assemblies of God programme, delegating Dr Edward Omane Boamah, the Minister of Defence and Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation.
Dr Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence and Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology, and Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, sadly passed away following a helicopter crash at Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region on Wednesday, August 6.
The helicopter was carrying eight individuals, including three crew members and five passengers, among them the ministers, a presidential staffer identified as Samuel Sarpong, and the ministers’ security detail.
Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, and Samuel Aboagye, a former Parliamentary Candidate, and Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of NDC, have all been confirmed dead.
The crew members are Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, on Wednesday night received the remains of the eight who died in the tragic military hospital.
Their bodies were received at the Air Force Base in Accra.
President John Mahama has also announced a three-day national mourning period.
Watch the video below:
“But for the Finance Minister, Hon. Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka would have been on the flight. He was pulled out to attend a different meeting”
— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) August 7, 2025
— New information coming in suggests the Environment Science and Technology Minister, Hon. Ibrahim Muturla Mohammed boarded the GAF Z9… pic.twitter.com/5MdbDwqj02
Asɛm o pic.twitter.com/imz1tzleyK
— Kisskhid Junior (@JuniorKiss20900) August 7, 2025