Some more revelations are coming in regarding the tragic Ghana Armed Forces helicopter crash that claimed the lives of eight Ghanaians.
According to details, last-minute changes spared the lives of several key government officials and NDC members, including President John Mahama.
Speaking on TV3’s New Day on Thursday, August 7, Presidential Staffer, Nana Yaa Jantuah, stated, “The president was originally supposed to go with them. But because of the prayer programme at Gomoa Fetteh, he changed his itinerary.”
Deputy Director-General of the National Service Authority, Fuseini Donkor, on the show also 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.
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 government of Ghana held a solemn wreath-laying ceremony on Thursday, August 7, at the Jubilee House.
The wreath-laying ceremony was in honour of the eight victims of the recent military helicopter crash that devastated the nation.
It was part of Ghana’s three-day national mourning period.
The event took place at the Ceremonial Garden in front of the Presidency.
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
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— Kisskhid Junior (@JuniorKiss20900) August 7, 2025