Nigeria, Aug. 6 -- Tragedy struck Ghana on Wednesday as two serving ministers and six others were confirmed dead following a military helicopter crash in the Ashanti region.

Among the eight individuals on board the ill-fated aircraft were Ghana's Minister of Defence, Edward Omane Boamah, and the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, according to a report by Reuters.

Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff to President John Mahama, confirmed the incident during a press briefing, describing the crash as a "national tragedy" that has dealt a major blow to the country's leadership and military.

"This is a heartbreaking loss. The President and the government send deepest condolences to the families of our departed...