The country was thrown into mourning yesterday, following the tragic crash of a Ghana Armed Forces helicopter at a forest near Adansi Brofoyedu in the Ashanti Region, which claimed the lives of eight individuals, including two serving ministers and other prominent figures.
The helicopter, identified as a Ghana Air Force Z9 aircraft, departed Accra at 9:12 a.m. en route to Obuasi, where President John Mahama was expected to launch a Community Mining Programme.
However, the aircraft lost contact with radar shortly after takeoff, prompting military authorities to issue an alert and initiate urgent search efforts.
Eyewitnesses at Adansi Brofoyedu, a farming community near Obuasi, recounted seeing the helicopter suddenly plunge from the sky and crash into a nearby forest area, erupting into flames on impact.
Thick plumes of smoke rose into the air as panicked residents rushed toward the scene. A farmer who spoke to DAILY GUIDE described the aftermath as “terrifying,” noting that the inferno made any rescue attempts nearly impossible.
Security personnel and emergency response teams arrived swiftly at the crash site and cordoned off the area. Videos and photographs captured shortly after the incident showed extensive wreckage and charred remains, confirming the fatal outcome for all those on board.
In a national broadcast later that day, Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, confirmed the deaths of the Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, and the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Alhaji Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed.
Also among the deceased were the Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator and former Minister for Food and Agriculture, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna; Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress, Dr. Samuel Sarpong; and Mr. Samuel Aboagye, a former parliamentary candidate.
The aircrew – Squadron Leader Peter Baafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah – also perished in the crash.
Mr. Debrah announced flags to be flown at half-mast in honour of the victims.
Earlier in the day, the Ghana Armed Forces had confirmed the disappearance of the helicopter through a statement signed by Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin, Acting Director General of Public Relations.
The statement noted that all efforts were being made to re-establish contact with the aircraft, which was carrying three crew members and five passengers.
The MP for Akrofuom, Joseph Azumah, whose constituency encompasses the crash site, expressed profound sorrow over the tragedy and pledged the community’s full cooperation with investigators.
He described the incident as a devastating loss for the entire nation.
As at 5pm yesterday, all the eight charred bodies of the victims had been retrieved and same sent to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) morgue for DNA identification and autopsy.
Condolences
The United Nations Ghana (UN-Ghana), in a statement, expressed similar sentiment in mourning the nation’s airforce helicopter tragedy.
“It is with profound sorrow that we receive the tragic news of the fatal crash involving the Ghana Airforce Z9 helicopter, claiming the lives of distinguished Government of Ghana officials, including the Honourable Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, and the Honourable Minister of Environment, Science, and Technology, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed.
“The United Nations family in Ghana mourns with the nation in this moment of deep grief. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, and to the Government and people of Ghana, as we together face this painful loss,” the statement signed by Zia Choudhury, UN Resident Coordinator, said.
The statement described the tragedy as “not only a national wound” but also a “loss felt across the international community.”
“We stand united at this time of mourning. We honour the memory of those who have passed, with hope for their lasting peace,” the statement concluded.
By I.F. Joe Awuah, Kumasi & David Afum, Adansi Brofoyedu