The bodies of eight individuals, including Ghana’s Defence Minister and other senior officials, have been retrieved and transported to Accra following a tragic Z-9 helicopter crash, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) have announced. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, has left the nation in mourning as investigations into the cause of the disaster get underway.
In a press release issued early this morning, the GAF confirmed that the helicopter, en route to a mining conference in Obuasi, crashed after going “off the radar” during its flight from Accra. Among the deceased are the Defence Minister, the acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, and the Vice Chair of the National Democratic Congress, alongside three military personnel, including the pilot. The GAF extended their “deepest condolences” to the families and friends of the victims, describing the event as a “difficult national tragedy.”
Captain Veronica Adzo Aryin, Acting Director-General of Public Relations for the GAF, signed the statement, which detailed how the bodies were recovered from the crash site in Sikaman near Adansi Akrofuom. “All eight bodies were recovered from the crash site in the general area of Sikaman near Adansi Akrofuom,” the release stated. The military has pledged to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Public reaction on social media has been swift, with many calling for an urgent probe into the incident. Users such as @mrphilghana urged the GAF to retrieve the helicopter’s black box, a critical component that could shed light on the cause. “Kindly open an urgent investigation… and hope you were able to retrieve the black box of the chopper?” the user posted in response to the GAF’s announcement.
The crash has raised questions about the safety of military aviation in Ghana, where such incidents are rare. Historical data from the Ghana News Agency indicates the last notable military helicopter crash occurred in 2006, underscoring the unusual nature of this event. Experts suggest potential factors could include mechanical failure or human error, with a 2019 study in the Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering noting that 65% of global military helicopter accidents are linked to these issues.
As the nation grapples with the loss, the GAF has called for flags to be flown at half-mast, a gesture echoed by government officials. The military has assured the public that a detailed inquiry will follow, with aviation experts likely to examine flight data, maintenance records, and weather conditions at the time of the crash.
For further details, the full GAF press release can be accessed here.