Crash probe will be transparent, No cover-up – Defence Ministry
The Ministry of Defence has assured thorough investigations into the helicopter crash that claimed eight individuals, including the Defence Minister, Dr Omane Boamah, in Adansi Akfrofoum in the Ashanti Region, on August 6.
Addressing chiefs in Accra on August 13, the Deputy Minister of Defence, Brogya Genfi, emphasised that the Ghana Armed Forces has commenced investigations into the incident and has also requested international collaboration to ensure a transparent process.
“We also want to assure you that the Ghana Armed Forces has already begun investigations into the incident. We made a request for an international collaboration, and we have received a positive response in that regard.
“We want to assure our chiefs that nothing will be covered, it will be transparent, and the Ghanaian public will know exactly what happened and the cause of this tragic accident.”
He further called on the media to be circumspect in the reportage on the incident.
Meanwhile, the President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, Nii Odaifio Welentsi Ill also called for pragmatic efforts to end illegal mining in Ghana.
“Galamsey is what has caused their lives. If you cannot do anything about this, the police can, once and for all we stop this thing. This country should rise up and stop galamsey,” he urged.
The crash claimed the lives of eight people, including Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, former parliamentary candidate, Samuel Aboagye, and National Democratic Congress (NDC) Vice Chairman, Samuel Sarpong, and Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator.
The crew members who perished were Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
The government declared a three-day national mourning period, which included a flower-laying ceremony from August 7 and a memorial service held on August 9.
A state funeral for the victims will be held on Friday, August 15, 2025, at the Black Star Square in Accra.
Earlier on Wednesday, August 6, the Ghana Armed Forces reported that the Z-9 helicopter, carrying three crew members and five passengers, had gone “off the radar.”
The aircraft departed Accra at 09:12 local time (GMT) and was heading to Obuasi for an anti-illegal mining event. Its disappearance triggered an immediate search-and-rescue operation, which later confirmed that all eight people aboard had died.
