Ghanaian authorities have recovered the flight data and cockpit voice recorders, commonly referred to as “black boxes,” from the military helicopter that crashed in the Ashanti region, killing eight people, including two Cabinet ministers.
President John Mahama confirmed the retrieval of the recorders and announced that the Ghana Armed Forces had launched a full and transparent investigation into the incident.
The Z9 military helicopter was en route from the capital, Accra, to Obuasi when it went down in a densely forested area amid poor weather conditions. There were no survivors.
Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment, Science and Technology Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed were among those who perished in the crash.
Also killed were Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Muniru Mohammed and Samuel Sarpong, Vice-Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress.
Local meteorological agencies had forecast unusually cold and foggy conditions for the month of August, with rains and mist affecting visibility in many forest regions.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing the helicopter flying at a low altitude shortly before hearing a loud explosion.
One eyewitness told the BBC the helicopter was flying at an "unusually low altitude" and the weather was bad.
He said he heard the sound of the helicopter passing by, followed by a "loud sound" and then a "bang".
"That's when I realised that the helicopter had exploded. So I hurried to the place to see if I could find survivors," he said.
The farmer said that when he got to the scene, there was "no one to be rescued".
This marks the most fatal of three emergency incidents involving Ghana Air Force helicopters in recent years.
In a televised address, President Mahama described the tragedy as a “personal loss” and extended condolences to the families of the deceased. The bodies have since been recovered, with forensic samples sent to South Africa for identification.
A state funeral is scheduled for August 15, 2025.
