General News
Ghana Mourns: National Flags to Fly at Half-Mast After Tragic Helicopter Crash Claims Two Ministers and Others
The Government of Ghana has declared a national mourning period following a devastating military helicopter crash that claimed the lives of several top officials, including Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence, and Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation.
The tragic incident occurred on Wednesday, August 6, in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region. The ministers were traveling with six others on official duty to Obuasi when their helicopter went down, leaving no survivors.
In response to the national tragedy, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah announced that all national flags across the country are to be flown at half-mast until further notice.
“The President and the government express their deepest condolences to the families of our fallen comrades, who died in dedicated service to the nation. Ghana mourns this profound loss,” the statement read.
The Ghana Armed Forces are currently conducting investigations to determine the cause of the crash and are expected to release more details in the coming days.
The Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, The Honourable Dr. Terrance Michael Drew, has arrived in Ghana for a five-day official visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries.
Dr. Drew’s visit, which runs from Tuesday, March 3 to Saturday, March 7, 2026, forms part of ongoing efforts to deepen cooperation between Ghana and the Caribbean nation through South-South collaboration.
During his stay, the Prime Minister will participate in Ghana’s 69th Independence Day celebration on Friday, March 6. He is also expected to hold high-level bilateral talks at the Presidency, where discussions will focus on expanding partnerships in key areas including education, health, trade, investment, and technology.
According to a statement issued by the Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu (MP), Prime Minister Drew will begin his official engagements with a meeting with the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana before proceeding to the Presidency for formal discussions and an official luncheon.
As part of his itinerary, Dr. Drew will visit notable historical landmarks such as the W.E.B. Du Bois Memorial Centre, the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, and the Cape Coast Castle. He will also pay a courtesy call on the Omanhene of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II.
General News
Gov’t Upholds 1,539 Appointments, Revokes 541 After Post-Election Review — Felix Kwakye Ofosu
The Government has upheld 1,539 public sector recruitments, appointments and promotions made around the December 7, 2024 general elections, following a detailed review process, Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu (MP), has announced.
Addressing journalists at the Government Accountability Series in Accra, Hon. Kwakye Ofosu explained that the review was necessitated by concerns raised during the transition period after the 2024 elections.
“It will be recalled that at the very first meeting of the Joint Transition Team, the incoming government raised serious concerns about reports of rash and unlawful recruitments into public institutions, as well as substantial payments to contractors and other creditors in the immediate aftermath of the elections,” he stated.
According to him, both sides of the Transition Team had reached an understanding that ongoing recruitments, promotions and significant statutory payments would be submitted for joint review.
“We left that meeting under the clear impression that there was agreement for all such activities to be subjected to review. Unfortunately, that understanding was disregarded,” he said.
Chief of Staff’s Directive
Mr. Kwakye Ofosu recalled that on February 10, 2025, the Chief of Staff issued a directive revoking appointments and recruitments made unlawfully after December 7, 2024.
“Following that directive, reports filtered in that some persons who were lawfully employed before December 7, or whose recruitment processes had commenced but were not completed before the elections, had also been affected. To ensure fairness and prevent innocent persons from suffering unduly, a committee was established to investigate the matter,” he explained.
Committee Review and Findings
The committee, chaired by Deputy Chief of Staff Nana Oye Bampoe, was tasked with examining compliance with public sector recruitment procedures. It reviewed 2,080 recruitments, appointments and promotions across 36 institutions between March 21 and April 30, 2025.
Mr. Kwakye Ofosu disclosed that the committee adopted an 80 percent compliance threshold.
“In other words, if an applicant met at least 80 percent of the required procedural steps, they were deemed to have been lawfully engaged,” he noted.
Institutions were required to provide documentation including vacancy declarations, advertisements, technical and financial clearances, interview reports, appointment letters and acceptance letters.
At the end of the exercise, the committee recommended that 1,539 appointments be upheld.
“These individuals complied with the prescribed recruitment and promotion procedures and received their appointment letters before December 7, 2024,” he stated.
However, 541 appointments were recommended for revocation.
“The recruitment processes in these cases ended after December 7, 2024, and failed to meet the 80 percent compliance pass mark. In essence, they did not conform to the established regulatory framework,” he said.
Clemency for Vulnerable Groups
The Minister revealed that although 879 appointments had initially been revoked by institutions themselves, the committee’s final recommendations reduced that number to 541.
“The differential arose because the committee paid special attention to vulnerable groups, particularly persons with disabilities,” Mr. Kwakye Ofosu explained.
“In certain instances within the Ghana Education Service, although procedural requirements were not fully met, we considered the peculiar circumstances of affected individuals. Clemency was granted to allow them to regularise their processes and remain in employment.”
“No Witch-Hunt”
Mr. Kwakye Ofosu dismissed suggestions that the exercise was politically motivated.
“The decision to revoke these appointments was not based on a witch-hunt. There was no political motive beyond the desire to uphold due process and ensure compliance with the rules governing public sector recruitment,” he stressed.
“It was done without malice or ill feeling towards anyone. It was a necessary step to uphold the rule of law and ensure accountability.”
He further alleged that the previous administration was aware that some basic procedural requirements had not been met but proceeded regardless.
“They completely disregarded the incoming administration’s requests to be consulted, so that we could ensure compliance with laid-down rules,” he said.
The Minister reiterated government’s commitment to transparency and accountability, adding that the review process was aimed at protecting the integrity of public service recruitment.
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