The Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council (ARCC) has announced a cash reward for anyone who willingly returns parts of a helicopter that crashed in the region earlier this month, amid ongoing investigations into one of Ghana’s deadliest aviation disasters in recent years.
The tragic incident occurred on 6 August 2025, when a Ghana Air Force Harbin Z-9 helicopter, carrying eight people including Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and another senior official, crashed into a forested mountainside in the Adanse Akrofuom district. All onboard perished, their bodies burnt beyond recognition due to a post-crash fire, as reported by local authorities. The helicopter was en route to an event addressing illegal mining when it vanished from radar, sparking a frantic search amid challenging foggy conditions.
In a statement released today, the ARCC appealed to residents near the crash site who may have taken wreckage to return it immediately. “The Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council is willing to offer a cash reward for any person who willingly returns any part of the crashed helicopter,” the statement read, as broadcast by GHOne TV, monitored by bigstuffmediagh.com. The move comes after concerns that delays in securing the remote, dense forest area may have led to looting by locals.
The crash, which has been described as a national tragedy, has raised questions about the safety of the Z-9 helicopter model. This Chinese-made aircraft, a variant of the Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin, has previously experienced emergency landings in Ghana, including a notable incident near Tamale in 2020. Investigators are currently analysing the recovered flight recorder, with the Ghana Armed Forces and National Fire Service collaborating to determine the cause—potential factors include mechanical failure or adverse weather conditions forecast by the Ghana Meteorological Agency.
Local reactions on social media have been mixed. While some residents expressed shock at the ARCC’s appeal, others, including user@Kissentone, criticised the lack of proactive security measures, stating, “A crash involving prominent people and no sign of proactiveness to secure the area… Oh Ghana!!” The ARCC has warned that failure to return the parts by an unspecified deadline will result in legal action against those found in possession of the wreckage.
Aviation experts emphasise the importance of recovering all debris for a thorough investigation, as noted in international protocols by bodies like the NTSB. The wreckage could provide critical clues about the mid-flight failure, potentially challenging official accounts if human error or equipment issues are identified.
Big Stuff Media Ghana will continue to follow this developing story as investigations unfold. For the latest updates, stay tuned to our website.