Captain (Rtd) Paul Forjoe
The committee tasked to investigate the cause of the tragic military helicopter crash on August 6, 2025, has revealed that the aircraft was airworthy, but the accident was caused by poor weather conditions, including a downdraft.
A downdraft is a column of air that sinks rapidly toward the ground, often caused by precipitation or cooling from a shower or thunderstorm.
The committee, chaired by Acting Minister for Defence, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, submitted its final report to President John Dramani Mahama on Monday, November 10, during a National Security Council meeting at the Jubilee House in Accra.
Captain (Rtd) Paul Forjoe, who presented details of the report at a press briefing in Accra yesterday, disclosed that the Harbin Z-9EH helicopter, operated by the Ghana Air Force, apart from the poor weather conditions, the aircraft also lacked critical safety systems that could have helped prevent the tragedy.
He said, “In Kumasi, the weather was worse, with drizzle reducing visibility to around four kilometres and heavy low clouds sitting just 600-900 feet above the ground. There was no information on the weather along the flight route available to the pilot.”
“Witnesses reported poor visibility due to fog and rain at Brofoyedru and its environs, the kind of rapid changes in environmental conditions over the terrain can result in turbulence, downdrafts and other phenomena,” he added.
He said though the helicopter was airworthy, it lacked additional safety enhancements for flying safer in the weather phenomena over that terrain due to adverse weather, limited visibility, rising terrain and no ground based navigational aid en route.
“The aircraft did not have key safety systems such as the Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning System (HTAWS/EGPWS), advanced terrain mapping navigation, and automatic flight control systems,” he pointed out.
According to Captain (Rtd) Forjoe, a retired pilot and senior aviation engineer with the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIB), such safety systems play important role in helping pilots navigate safely, especially in difficulty environments.
He said, “The aircraft was declared serviceable and signed off by the pilot, who was fully competent to operate it. This loss of altitude without change in power or pitch altitude is consistent with downdraft associated with changing environmental conditions over high terrain.”
Captain Forjoe, who also lauded the efforts of the rescue team, said though they faced extreme weather challenges, the team still managed to arrive at the crash site within two hours.
“The fact that these first responders managed to get to the site in about two hours was remarkable because the terrain has very steep slopes. It was raining, it was slippery, so it wasn’t the easiest thing to do, we can confidently say the emergency response was very timely,” he added.
Captain (Rtd) Forjoe further indicated that the committee’s findings revealed that the pilot and co-pilot involved in the August 6 helicopter incident were in good standing, having met all professional and regulatory requirements before the incident.
The committee also recommended Ghana Air Force to invest in simulators for recurrent pilot training to enhance proficiency and operational safety, and also contract certified aviation weather providers to enable them develop en route navigational aids, especially in remote areas where such systems are lacking.
He also mentioned that the committee recommended that Ghana Air Force establish flight data monitoring and en route tracking systems that would allow better real-time oversight of aircraft operations.
The investigation also recommended the modernisation of ground support equipment to strengthen maintenance and emergency response capacity across Air Force bases.
According to Captain Forjoe, these recommendations are crucial for enhancing the Air Force’s operational readiness and preventing future aviation disasters.
The committee, established shortly after the crash, was tasked with determining the cause of the incident and recommending measures to prevent future occurrences.
Background
The helicopter, with tail number GHF 631, took off from Accra at about 9:12 a.m. en route to Obuasi in the Ashanti Region on an anti-illegal mining operation, lost radar contact and crashed in the Adansi Akrofuom District.
All eight passengers and crew members on board perished in the crash. The victims included the Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah; the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed; Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Muniru Mohammed Limuna.
The rest are National Democratic Congress (NDC) Vice-Chair, Samuel Sarpong; former NDC parliamentary candidate, Samuel Aboagye; Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala; Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu; and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
The investigation, led by National Security Coordinator Abdul-Osman Razak, was conducted in collaboration with the Ghana Air Force, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), and international aviation experts.
The report is expected to guide the implementation of stronger safety protocols and upgrades in military aviation operations.
Captain (Rtd) Forjoe, who described the Z-9 EH accident as unfortunate, stated that implementing the safety recommendations immediately will prevent recurrence of such accidents in future.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah