The final investigation into Ghana’s August 6, 2025 helicopter crash, which killed eight people including two government ministers, has concluded that the Z-9 military aircraft was fully airworthy before it went down. However, the absence of advanced safety systems may have impaired the crew’s ability to navigate through poor weather conditions.
At a press briefing on Tuesday, November 11, lead investigator Captain Paul Forjoe, a retired pilot with the Aircraft Accidents Investigations Bureau, confirmed that the helicopter had undergone all necessary checks before takeoff.
“The aircraft on the day when it crashed was declared serviceable and duly signed off by the captain,” he said, adding that the Flight Data Report showed all onboard systems were operating normally until the moment of impact.
Despite meeting airworthiness standards, Captain Forjoe said the Z-9 lacked essential “avionic safety enhancements” that could have improved the pilots’ situational awareness. He listed the missing systems as a terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS), advanced navigation with terrain mapping, and an automatic flight control system.
“This safety equipment could have enhanced situational awareness,” he noted, stressing that such tools are vital for pilots operating in difficult or low-visibility environments. “We have recommended strongly for aircraft with these additional safety enhancements be acquired immediately,” he added.
The Ghana Air Force helicopter was en route to an event on illegal mining when it crashed into a forested mountainside in the Ashanti Region, killing everyone on board. The victims included Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Limuna Mohammed Muniru, NDC Vice Chairman Samuel Sarpong, former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
According to the Ghana Armed Forces, the Z-9 departed Kotoka International Airport in Accra at 9:12 a.m., bound for the Obuasi Black Park area, but went off radar mid-flight. Search teams later discovered the wreckage engulfed in flames, with all victims burnt beyond recognition.
Footage from the crash site showed scattered debris burning in a dense forest as bystanders tried to assist rescue efforts. The disaster ranks among Ghana’s deadliest air accidents in more than a decade.
