By Daniel Bampoe
Pieces of information have started emerging over the cause of last Wednesday crash of the Ghana Air Force helicopter ferring senior government officials to anti-galamsey programme in Obuasi, which killed all the occupants including the crew members.
Even before the investigative team tasked to probe the accident completes its work, there are suggesgtions that the helicopter encounter bad weather leading to its inability to land.
The pilot was said to have tried unsuccesfully three times to land before plunging into a tree causing a defeaning explosion.
Deputy Majority Chief Whip, Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe Ghansah, has cast doubt on the official description of the August 6, 2025 tragedy, insisting that it was caused by an explosion in the air rather than a standard crash.
Speaking on Accra-based Okay FM, the Ada MP said the scattered wreckage and the distance between the victims’ remains did not match the pattern of a normal aircraft crash.
“The aircraft blasted; it did not crash,” she stressed. “In past crashes, the aircraft lands in one location, and all the victims are found together”.
“This time, parts were strewn over a wide area, and some victims were discovered in a deep valley. If they were in seatbelts, how could they end up scattered? This means the blast happened before it hit the ground.”
She welcomed news that the black box — containing both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder — had been retrieved, but urged the government to release the findings to the public once analyzed.
“We thank God the black box has been found. Whatever the details are, the government should make them available. We all want to know what happened,” she said.
Eyewitness Accounts
A local farmer who witnessed the disaster described the helicopter as flying unusually low that morning, in what he assumed was a routine gold transport flight for AngloGold Ashanti.
“We were in our farms working when we saw the helicopter flying very low. We thought it was one of AngloGold’s helicopters heading towards Obuasi,” he said.
“Suddenly, it hit a tall tree and crashed into a mountain. The blast that followed was so strong it sent shivers down our spines.”
He added that he and other farmers tried to rush to the crash site to rescue survivors, but the chopper had caught fire and destruction was overwhelming.
“We only witnessed a gory spectacle of burnt bodies all over the place. The fire was so intense we couldn’t go near the wreckage,” he recounted.
Journalist’s Observation
Journalist Ibrahim Abubakari, who covered the scene, said he was convinced the helicopter exploded in mid-air after observing how far parts of the aircraft were scattered.
“On my way to the accident scene, I saw parts of the helicopter scattered deep in the bush — some were a 30-minute walk away from the main wreckage.”
“That clearly shows there was an explosion before it hit the ground,” he told reporters.
KMA Boss on Rescue Efforts
Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), revealed the extreme difficulties faced by rescuers.
“The heat from the wreckage was unbearable. It forced the teams to improvise and use sacks to recover the remains of victims,” he said in an interview with Akoma FM.
Agyeman Boadi also disclosed that the helicopter, carrying high-ranking officials including former Obuasi East parliamentary candidate, Samuel Aboagye, made multiple unsuccessful landing attempts before the fatal incident.
“He told the Obuasi MCE to bring his car to the airstrip. Moments later, he said they couldn’t land there and asked for the car to be sent to Oforikrom. The aircraft tried twice at Obuasi and once at Oforikrom before going down,” he revealed.
Background to the Tragedy
The Harbin Z-9 military helicopter was on a mission from the Air Force base in Accra to Obuasi for the launching of responsible mining programme when it went down in the forested mountains of Adansi Akrofuom.
All eight people onboard died.
They are: Edward Omane Boamah, Minister of Defence
Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology
Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Limuna, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator
Samuel Sarpong, NDC Vice Chairman
Samuel Aboagye, former parliamentary candidate
Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, pilot
Flying Officer Manaen Twum-Ampadu, co-pilot
Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah, technician
The impact and post-crash fire left bodies charred beyond recognition, requiring DNA testing in South Africa.
Official Investigation
John M.K. Wumborti, Acting Commissioner of the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau, confirmed the black box had been retrieved and said a preliminary report would be issued within a month, in line with international protocols.
“It is a loss to Ghana, not just the families. This is not the time to apportion blame. Let’s mourn the heroes,” he said.
President John Mahama called the accident “a personal loss,” suspended all official duties for a week, declared three days of national mourning, and ordered flags to fly at half-mast.
A state funeral is scheduled for August 15.
