Ghana’s ministers of defence and environment have died in a military helicopter crash in the Ashanti region, along with six other people, a government spokesperson says.
Earlier, the Ghana Armed Forces said the aircraft, which was carrying three crew and five passengers had gone “off the radar”.
It had taken off from the capital, Accra, at 09:12 local time (and GMT) and was heading to the gold-mining town of Obuasi for a national event.
The authorities have not confirmed the cause of the crash.
Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, who addressed the nation, has directed the country’s flags to fly at half-mast.