An Air Force helicopter crashed in Ghana, killing all eight people on board, including the country's defence and environment ministers.

Authorities said the aircraft had taken off from the capital, Accra, at 9:12 am local time and was heading to Obuasi, a mining town in the south of the country, on Wednesday, August 6.

The Armed Forces reported earlier the same day that the Z-9 helicopter had gone off radar, prompting efforts to re-establish contact.

Footage shows flames and smoke rising from the crash site as residents and emergency responders examine the wreckage.

An incident report from the Aviation Safety Network stated: 'A Ghana Air Force Harbin Z-9 helicopter impacted a forested mountainside in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. It was destroyed by fire. The three crew members and five passengers all died in the crash.

'Among the passengers were Ghana's ministers of defence and environment. They were travelling to Obuasi for an event to tackle illegal mining.'

Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed were among those killed, along with Samuel Sarpong, vice-chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress, and Muniru Mohammed, a senior national security adviser.

Chief of Staff Julius Debrah directed national flags to be flown at half-mast.

He said: 'The president and government extend our condolences and sympathies to the families of our comrades and the servicemen who died in service to the country.'

The Ghana Armed Forces also expressed sympathy to the bereaved families.

An investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.