The full investigation report on the tragic Helicopter Crash that occurred on August 6, 2025, has finally been released by the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIB-Ghana). The report, led by National Security Coordinator COP Abdul-Razak Osman and a team of experts, confirms that the Helicopter Crash was caused by a sudden downdraft that forced the aircraft to lose altitude unexpectedly.
According to the report, the Ghana Air Force Z-9EH helicopter, carrying eight officials, crashed into a forested area in the Ashanti Region while on a mission related to the fight against illegal mining. Sadly, all eight people on board, including Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, lost their lives in the Helicopter Crash.
The AIB-Ghana investigation was supported by aviation experts from the United States Air Force and the U.S. Embassy in Ghana. Their findings confirmed that the aircraft was airworthy but lacked modern safety systems such as terrain awareness and advanced navigation features that could have helped the pilots avoid danger.
The report also revealed that poor weather and limited visibility were major factors in the Helicopter Crash. The helicopter had delayed its flight due to bad weather in Accra, and conditions worsened midair as the aircraft approached the Obuasi area. Investigators said a powerful downdraft caused the sudden loss of lift, leading to the crash.
Captain Paul Fodjour, Head of Investigations at AIB-Ghana, noted that the aircraft had passed all safety checks and the crew were fully qualified and medically fit. “It was an unfortunate weather-related accident,” he said, commending the emergency teams who arrived at the crash site within two hours despite difficult conditions.
The 41-page report includes several safety recommendations to prevent future accidents. Among them are calls to modernize the Ghana Air Force fleet with aircraft equipped with advanced terrain and weather warning systems, install cockpit voice and flight data recorders, and invest in flight simulators for pilot training.
The government says it is committed to implementing the report’s recommendations to strengthen aviation safety and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
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