Authorities in Ghana’s Ashanti region have issued a stark warning following the tragic helicopter crash that claimed eight lives earlier this week. The Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council (ARCC) has declared that any individual found in possession of parts from the downed aircraft after Monday, 11 August 2025, will be considered a criminal and face the full rigours of the law.
The announcement, broadcast by GHOne Tv, and monitored by bigstuffmediagh.com comes in the wake of a devastating incident on 6 August, when a Ghana Air Force Harbin Z-9 helicopter crashed into a forested mountainside en route to an event addressing illegal mining in Obuasi. Among the deceased were Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and seven others, including crew members, with no survivors reported. The crash has prompted a thorough investigation by the Ghana Armed Forces, who are racing to recover the wreckage for analysis.
Reports indicate that local residents descended on the crash site shortly after the incident, salvaging components and personal effects from the wreckage. This has raised concerns among investigators, who fear that vital evidence could be lost or compromised. The ARCC’s statement underscores the urgency of the situation, with a deadline set for Monday to return all retrieved items without penalty. “The retrieval of these parts is critical to understanding the cause of this tragedy,” a spokesperson for the council emphasised.
The move follows initial attempts to recover the wreckage, including an offer of a cash reward, which appears to have yielded limited results. This has led to speculation about the challenges of securing remote crash sites, particularly in areas where scavenging is common. Local voices, including farmer Kwame Adjei, who witnessed the aftermath, described a chaotic scene: “By the time I reached the site, people were already picking through the debris. There was nothing left to save.”
The helicopter, part of a fleet with a history of emergency landings—such as the 2020 incident near Tamale Airport and last year’s event in Bonsukrom—has raised questions about the maintenance and operational safety of Ghana’s military aircraft. The flight data and cockpit voice recorders, or “black boxes,” have been recovered, and samples from the victims have been sent to South Africa for forensic analysis. President Mahama has vowed a “full and transparent investigation,” acknowledging the national grief over the loss of prominent figures.
Public reaction on social media has been mixed, with some calling for extended deadlines and better communication with rural communities, while others criticise the authorities for not securing the site sooner. “Most people here don’t use Twitter; they need megaphones in the villages,” tweeted@The_Kafui, reflecting a sentiment echoed by others who suggest a more proactive approach to evidence recovery.
As the deadline looms, the ARCC’s warning serves as a final call to action, balancing the need for justice with the practical realities of a nation in mourning. Updates on the investigation are expected as authorities work to piece together the circumstances of this unprecedented loss.
Bigstuffmediagh.com will continue to monitor this developing story. For more details, visit the original GHOne TV post linked above.