President John Dramani Mahama has asked Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson to take on the additional role of acting defence minister after a military helicopter went down on its way to the gold-mining hub of Obuasi, killing everyone aboard, including Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah.
The aircraft, which was also carrying Environment, Science and Technology Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed and three air-force crew members, crashed on Wednesday. Investigators have yet to determine what caused the accident.
Forson, appointed to the finance post in January when Mahama returned to office, will now oversee both the treasury and the defence ministry while the government decides on a permanent successor.