Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has appointed two senior government officials to oversee the Defence and Environment, Science and Technology ministries following the tragic deaths of the substantive ministers in a helicopter crash on Wednesday.

In a statement released by the Presidency Communications Directorate, President Mahama directed the Minister for Finance, Hon. Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, to assume additional responsibility as Acting Defence Minister. Similarly, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Kofi Armah Buah, has been asked to act as Minister for Environment, Science and Technology “until further notice.”

“This follows the tragic demise of the substantive Ministers for Defence and Environment, Science and Technology, in yesterday’s fatal helicopter crash on their way to an event in Obuasi,” the statement read.

The announcement, signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications, marks the government’s first formal response since the crash that rocked the nation.

“President John Dramani Mahama has asked the Minister for Finance, Hon Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, to take on additional responsibility as Defence Minister,” the statement said.

“The President has also asked the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon Emmanuel Kofi Armah Buah, to act as Minister for Environment, Science and Technology until further notice.”

On Wednesday, Ghana was shaken by the news of a fatal military helicopter crash that claimed the lives of several high-ranking government officials, including the country’s substantive Ministers for Defence and for Environment, Science and Technology, who were en route to an official engagement in Obuasi, a major gold mining town in the Ashanti Region. (AriseNews TV)