Ghana is in mourning following a military helicopter crash in the Ashanti region that claimed the lives of two senior government ministers and six others.

The country’s Defence Minister, Edward Omane Boamah, and Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, 50, were among those killed, according to a statement from Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, who described the incident as a “national tragedy.”

The helicopter, carrying a total of eight people — three crew members and five passengers — had departed from the capital, Accra, at 09:12 local time. It was en route to Obuasi, a major gold-mining town, where a national event was scheduled to take place. The Ghana Armed Forces confirmed that the aircraft had gone off radar during its flight. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined.

Among the other victims were Ghana’s Deputy National Security Coordinator and former Agriculture Minister Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, as well as Samuel Sarpong, Vice-Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) party.

The crew members who died in the crash have been named as Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.

On behalf of President John Dramani Mahama and the government, the chief of staff extended condolences to the families of those lost, particularly the service members who “died in service to the country.” As a mark of respect, national flags will be flown at half-mast.