A Ghana Air Force helicopter with eight people on board has tragically crashed around the Adansi enclave in the Ashanti Region, killing all passengers and crew, according to an official confirmation from the Chief of Staff on August 6.
Earlier in the day, before the confirmation, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) released a statement indicating that Helicopter Z9, which took off from Accra at 0912 hours, had gone off radar while en route to Obuasi. On board were three crew members and five passengers serving in diverse portfolios under the current government administration.
“All efforts are being made to establish contact,” the Air Force noted at the time.
READ ALSO:
Moments later, those efforts gave way to a grim confirmation by Julius Debrah, the Chief of Staff: all eight onboard had perished in the crash, which occurred in the Adansi Akrofuom district of the Ashanti Region.
“Government regrets to announce the demise of the following persons in the tragic crash… We extend our condolences and sympathies to the families of our comrades and the servicemen who died in service to the country. All flags are to fly at half-mast until further notice,” he stated.
The deceased have been named as:
Dr. Omane Boamah, Minister of Defence, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, who doubles as Member of Parliament for Tamale Central; Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress; Samuel Aboagye, NADMO Deputy Director-General; Limuna Muniru, Ag Dep National Security Coordinator.
Also killed in the crash were three Ghana Air Force personnel, Squadron Leader Peter Anala, Flying Officer Twum Ampedu and Sergeant Ernest Addo-Mensah.
Bodies Found
Rescue and recovery teams made a difficult journey through rough terrain to reach the crash site. According to Dr. Amoakohene the Ashanti Regional Minister, it took an hour and a half on foot from the closest town deep within 1000ft of the mountain ‘Dampayaw’ to retrieve the bodies.
Abt 1000ft up Mountain Dampayaw, 2hrs drive frm Obuasi plus 1hr 30min on foot frm Sikaman Bofodu, we retrieved the 8 lifeless compatriots.💔
— Dr Frank Amoakohene (@DrAmoakohene) August 6, 2025