The Ghanaian Minaret

Accra: Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak, the Minister for Interior, has for the first time publicly shared insight into how he narrowly escaped from the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of eight victims including two ministers of state.

He recounted the circumstances that led to the cancellation of his trip to Obuasi, a decision which would eventually save his life.

In a radio interview with Kumasi-based Zuria FM on Friday, the minister revealed that he was originally scheduled to be onboard the Z9 helicopter that crashed while en route to Obuasi in the Ashanti region.

He said that the president, John Dramani Mahama, had delegated him and the late Dr Omane Boamah, the Minister of Defence, to be at the launch of a community mining programme to be held in Obuasi in the Ashanti region.

The interior minister indicated that they were delegated during a meeting that took place on Friday, August 1, at the residence of the president.

The said meeting was attended by the ministers of finance and defence, as well as lands and natural resources.

Together with the late Dr Boamah, he said they decided to use the helicopter so as to allow them to return to Accra early for other engagements.

Days before the trip to Obuasi, Alhaji Mubarak narrated that he had a very tight schedule which included a return trip to Tamale on Saturday upon the request of the president and travel to Benin on Tuesday, which was sanctioned by the Chief of Staff.

“I thought we would return from Benin early, but we returned very late in the night, and I had a hunch not to go to Obuasi the next day for the event (mining event).

“I talked to Hajia Zainab, who was in America, and I told her I had this feeling not to go because I was feeling tired,” he disclosed.

He said he had the opportunity to follow his instincts when the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, called him for a morning meeting on the day of travel to Obuasi.

“The finance minister asked me where I was, and I told him I was in Accra. “He asked that we meet to discuss the issues on matters I have put before him about the immigration and prison service,” he said in the Hausa language.

He said that the meeting with the finance minister gave him a perfect reason to disembark from the trip to Obuasi.

In his place, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, the minister of Environment Science and Technology, would embark on the journey that led to his demise.

Alhaji Muntaka, who is also the Member of Parliament for Asawase, said he was not surprised when people panicked at the thought of his likely demise, as official flight records prepared earlier had shown he was to be on the aircraft.

“The manifest prepared the previous night showed that I was onboard the helicopter. The president thought I went, his secretary also thought I went, and even the national security coordinator thought I went,” he said during the interview.

Also confirmed dead were Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Samuel Aboagye, a former Parliamentary Candidate; and Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The helicopter’s three crew members, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah, also lost their lives.

The victims’ bodies have been transported to South Africa for forensic analysis.

President John Dramani Mahama has since declared three days of national mourning, which began on Thursday, August 7.

Burial for the two Muslims among the deceased has been slated for Sunday, August 10, 2025, at the military cemetery in Accra, with funeral prayers to be said at the forecourt of the state house.