A helicopter crash on Wednesday killed eight people, including the Ghanaian Defense Minister and the Environment Minister, as they traveled to a gold mining site in the Ashanti region.

Defense Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed died in the crash, along with the Deputy Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress party, a top security adviser, and four crew members.

Meanwhile, the government has launched an investigation into the crash and declared three days of national mourning, during which the flag must fly at half-mast.

The military helicopter took off from the capital city, Accra, heading northwest before it crashed in Adans, leaving no survivors.

The victims’ remains were retrieved on Thursday and have since been repatriated to Accra.