President Mahama names acting ministers after a fatal helicopter crash that killed cabinet members
President Mahama has appointed interim ministers in the wake of a helicopter crash that resulted in the deaths of the Defence Minister and the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology.
Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has appointed two senior government officials to manage the Defence and Environment, Science and Technology ministries after the unfortunate deaths of the substantive ministers in a helicopter crash on Wednesday.
The Presidency Communications Directorate has announced that President Mahama has instructed the Minister for Finance, Hon. Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, to take on the additional role of Acting Defence Minister. In a similar vein, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Kofi Armah Buah, has been requested to serve as Minister for Environment, Science and Technology “until further notice.”
“This comes after the unfortunate passing of the substantive Ministers for Defence and Environment, Science and Technology, in yesterday’s deadly helicopter crash while en route to an event in Obuasi,” the statement read.
The announcement, issued by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications, represents the government’s initial formal reaction following the crash that shook the nation.
“President John Dramani Mahama has requested that the Minister for Finance, Hon Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, assume the additional role of Defence Minister,” the statement indicated.
“The President has requested that the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon Emmanuel Kofi Armah Buah, serve as Minister for Environment, Science and Technology until further notice.”
On Wednesday, Ghana was rocked by the tragic news of a military helicopter crash that resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking government officials, including the country’s substantive Ministers for Defence and for Environment, Science and Technology, who were traveling to an official engagement in Obuasi, a prominent gold mining town in the Ashanti Region.
