An official investigation has concluded that bad weather was the primary cause of the helicopter crash that killed Ghana’s Defence Minister, Edward Omane Boamah, and Environment Minister, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, along with six others in August this year.
The report, released after a two-month probe, revealed that the Z9 military helicopter encountered a severe downdraft — a powerful downward air current — while flying over a forested area en route from Accra to Obuasi. The sudden loss of lift caused the aircraft to plummet, killing everyone on board.
According to the committee, the helicopter was airworthy at the time of the incident, but Ghana’s Air Force fleet urgently requires modernization, as many aircraft lack essential safety and navigation technology.
“The helicopter did not have a Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS), which alerts pilots to potential ground collisions,” said Captain Paul Forjoe, a retired aviation engineer and head of the investigative panel.
The probe was jointly conducted by Ghanaian authorities and U.S. aviation experts, with assistance from the helicopter’s Chinese manufacturer.
On the day of the tragedy, the two ministers and other officials were travelling to Obuasi to attend a government event on illegal mining.
Eyewitnesses described the helicopter as flying unusually low before the crash.
“I heard the chopper pass overhead, then there was a loud sound and a bang. When I got to the scene, there was no one to rescue,” a local farmer told the BBC.
The fatal crash has renewed calls for urgent upgrades to Ghana’s military aviation infrastructure, with safety advocates stressing the need for modern aircraft equipped with advanced warning systems to prevent future tragedies.