2025 Ghanaian Air Force Z-9 helicopter crash

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2025 Ghanaian Air Force Z-9 helicopter crash
Ghana Air Force GHF 631.jpg
GHF 631, the helicopter involved in the accident, seen in 2024
Accident
Date6 August 2025
SummaryCrashed en route; under investigation
Site Akrofuom District, Ashanti Region, Ghana
6°17′N1°36′W / 6.28°N 1.60°W / 6.28; -1.60
Aircraft
Aircraft type Harbin Z-9EH
Operator Ghana Air Force
Registration GHF 631
Flight origin Kotoka International Airport
Destination Obuasi Airport
Occupants8
Passengers5
Crew3
Fatalities8
Survivors0

On 6 August 2025, a Ghana Air Force Harbin Z-9 helicopter carrying eight people to an event about fighting illegal mining crashed into a forested mountainside in the Ashanti region of Ghana, killing all eight people on board. Among the dead were Ghana's defence minister Edward Omane Boamah and environment minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed.

Contents

Background

Aircraft

The aircraft involved in the crash was a Harbin Z-9EH military helicopter, a Chinese-made naval platform known for its versatility and rugged performance. The Z-9EH is a specialized variant of the Z-9 helicopter, itself a Chinese-licensed version of the French Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin. It is primarily used by the People's Liberation Army Navy and other security forces for anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship operations and search and rescue missions. [1]

Passengers and crew

The occupants were identified as Minister of Defence Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Environment Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, acting deputy national security coordinator Limuna Mohammed Muniru, vice chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) Samuel Sarpong, former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Twum Ampadu and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah. [2] [3]

President John Mahama had originally been scheduled to attend the event, but instead delegated the ministers to represent him due to a concurrent occasion. [4]

Crash

According to the Ghana Armed Forces, the helicopter took off from Kotoka International Airport in Accra at 9:12 a.m., heading northwest into the interior toward the gold-mining area for an event about tackling illegal mining at the Obuasi Black Park in Obuasi, Ashanti Region, when it went off the radar. [5] The helicopter's wreckage was found later, with all of the victims being burnt beyond recognition in a post-crash fire. [2]

Footage of the crash site showed debris on fire in a forest as people circled around to help. [6] The crash was one of Ghana's worst air disasters in more than a decade. [7]

Aftermath

The remains of the victims were transported to Accra. Samples were flown to South Africa for DNA analysis to aid in their identification. [8] The burial of the Muslim victims of the crash, which was scheduled on 7 August, was postponed due to identification procedures. [9] A state funeral for the victims was held in Accra on 15 August and was attended by President Mahama. [10]

Investigation

The Ghana Armed Forces said an investigation was under way. [11] The Ghana National Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they will investigate the crash in conjunction with other security agencies. [12] The flight recorder of the helicopter was recovered by a team of investigators a day after the crash. [13] [8]

Reactions

National

The Parliament of Ghana expressed deep sorrow over the crash and pledged solidarity with the nation in mourning. [14]

Presidential chief of staff Julius Debrah described the crash as a "national tragedy", announced that flags will fly half-mast until further notice and led a government delegation to receive the remains of the victims. [15] [16]

President John Mahama suspended all activities and declared three days of national mourning. [17] Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang and other top officials visited the families of the victims. [18] [19] [20]

The NDC described the crash as an irreplaceable loss to the party and expressing its "deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, the Ghana Armed Forces, and the people of Ghana". [21]

International

Condolences were expressed by several countries and international organizations, including the United Kingdom, [22] Sierra Leone, [23] The Gambia, Nigeria, the African Development Bank, [24] the United Nations, ECOWAS, [25] the African Union, [26] the World Trade Organization, [24] Germany, [27] Kenya, Namibia, [28] Italy, and the Holy See. [29]

References

  1. ↑ "All About the Z-9EH: Military helicopter in fatal crash involving Dr Omane Boamah, Dr Murtala, others". GhanaWeb . 6 August 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Ghana Defence minister, Environment minister, six odas die for helicopter crash" [Ghana defence minister, environment minister, six others die in helicopter crash] (in Ghanaian Pidgin). BBC News Pidgin. 6 August 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  3. ↑ "Ghana's defence, environment ministers among 8 killed in helicopter crash". Al Jazeera English . Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  4. ↑ "Why Mahama's choice to attend church event may have averted further tragedy in helicopter crash". GhanaWeb . 7 August 2025. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  5. ↑ Livni, Ephrat (6 August 2025). "Ghana Helicopter Crash Kills 8, Including Defense and Environment Ministers". The New York Times . Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  6. ↑ "Helicopter Crash Ghana : Ghana Air Force helicopter crashes near Obuasi; 8 confirmed dead". Daily Graphic . 6 August 2025. Archived from the original on 9 August 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  7. ↑ Adetayo, Ope (6 August 2025). "Helicopter crash in Ghana kills ministers of defense and environment and 6 others". Associated Press . Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  8. 1 2 Boakye, Patricia (7 August 2025). "Black Box of crashed Military helicopter recovered – Amoakohene confirms". Citi Newsroom. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  9. ↑ Naadi, Thomas; Kupemba, Danai Nesta (6 August 2025). "Ghana helicopter crash kills ministers of defence and environment". BBC . Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  10. ↑ "Ghana holds state funeral for 8 helicopter crash victims". Africanews. 16 August 2025. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  11. ↑ "Government ministers among eight killed in Ghana helicopter crash". Sky News. 6 August 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  12. ↑ Wiafe, Sammi (7 August 2025). "Inter agency team investigating Helicopter crash – GNFS". Citi Newsroom. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  13. ↑ Naadi, Thomas; Kupemba, Danai Nesta; Ngcobo, Khanyisile (8 August 2025). "Ghana helicopter crash: 'Black boxes' found after aircraft went down killing two ministers". BBC . Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  14. ↑ Wyettey Cofie, Risa (6 August 2025). "Parliament mourns eight officials killed in Military Helicopter crash". Starr FM . Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  15. ↑ Kottasová, Ivana (6 August 2025). "Two Ghana government ministers among 8 killed in helicopter crash". CNN . Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  16. ↑ Odame Asare, Juliana (6 August 2025). "Chief of Staff leads top govt delegation to receive remains of Defence Minister, 7 others". Citi Newsroom. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  17. ↑ "Ghana declares three days of national mourning for helicopter crash victims". TRT Global. 7 August 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  18. ↑ "Vice President leads condolence visits to families of helicopter crash victims". The Herald. 6 August 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  19. ↑ "Vice President leads delegation to console families of helicopter crash victims". 20 August 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  20. ↑ "Helicopter crash victims: Ghana hold State funeral for victims inside Independence Square". BBC News Pidgin. 14 August 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  21. ↑ Wyettey Cofie, Risa (6 August 2025). "NDC mourns loss of top party officials, officers in helicopter crash". Starr FM . Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  22. ↑ Wyettey Cofie, Risa (6 August 2025). "UK commiserates with Ghana after tragic Helicopter crash claims eight". Starr FM . Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  23. ↑ Wyettey Cofie, Risa (6 August 2025). "President Bio mourns victims of Ghana's helicopter crash, offers solidarity". Starr FM . Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  24. 1 2 Sededzi Kwame, Christopher (7 August 2025). "How UN, AU, ECOWAS, and world leaders reacted to Ghana's tragic helicopter crash". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  25. ↑ "ECOWAS Expresses Sympathy In Wake Of Tragic Helicopter Crash". News Ghana . 8 August 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  26. ↑ "Statement by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on the Tragic Helicopter Crash in Ghana". African Union. 6 August 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  27. ↑ Boye-Doe, Agnes, ed. (6 August 2025). "Helicopter Crash: German Embassy grieves in solidarity with Ghana". Ghana News Agency. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  28. ↑ "Kenya, Namibia mourn victims of Ghana Helicopter crash". Ghana Weekend. 7 August 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  29. ↑ "Pope Leo sends condolences to Ghana mourning victims of helicopter crash". Vatican News . 7 August 2025. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
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