A sombre atmosphere engulfed the Ministries enclave yesterday following the tragic loss of two ministers, a Deputy National Security Coordinator, three soldiers and two National Democratic Congress members on assignment in the Ashanti Region.
The eight, including the Minister of Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, and the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, died in a helicopter crash at Adansi Krofuom on their way to the launch of the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) at Obuasi.
Staff at the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST) in Accra were mournful yesterday as the passing of the sector minister filtered through.
At about 3:30 p.m. when the Daily Graphic visited the offices, deep silence and apparent disbelief had gripped staff in the wake of confirmation of the tragic death of the sector minister.
Staff looked shaken by the devastating news.
Scheduled meetings were suspended, while a solemn hush took over the usually active corridors of the ministry.
The national flag, hoisted at half-mast at the entrance of the ministry on the directive of the President, fluttered slowly.
Inside the offices and along the corridors, the mood was heavy.
Several staff members wore red and black armbands, a known symbol of mourning in Ghanaian cultural settings.
Some sat quietly in their offices, while others appeared to comfort their colleagues.
A few who could not contain the weight of the news broke down in tears as the reality of the tragedy dawned on them.
Management hastily organised a meeting in the main conference room to officially break the news of the demise of the minister.
Outside the premises was a crowd of onlookers and passersby who stood in silence.
The Chief Director of the ministry, Suweibatu Adam, shed tears, her head wrapped in a scarf, as she walked out of the premises flanked by escorts.
As dusk approached, the main gate bore a red mourning band, while the flag continued to wave gently.
Staff members departed the building in deep silence, many seemingly still in shock.
