ACCRA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Sunday sent a message of condolences to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed over the Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed the 157 people onboard.

According to a press release, like all Ghanaians, the president has been deeply saddened by Sunday's news of the tragic loss of 157 lives, who perished on board an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa to Nairobi, Kenya.

Akufo-Addo, on behalf of the government and people of Ghana, extended deep condolences and sympathies to the families of the deceased, and to Abiy Ahmed, the government and people of Ethiopia in these difficult times.

"May the souls of the departed rest in peace," the release said.

According to Ethiopian Airlines, the aircraft Boeing 737-800 MAX took off in the morning from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport and crashed minutes later around Bishoftu town, some 45 km from the capital Addis Ababa.