Ghana has been plunged into mourning following a tragic Ghana Armed Forces helicopter crash on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region. The Z‑9 aircraft, which had taken off from Accra en route to Obuasi, went off radar shortly after 9 a.m. Authorities later confirmed the deaths of all eight people on board, including three crew members and five passengers.

Among the victims were two senior government officials — Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister of Defence, and Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology. Rescue teams from the Armed Forces, police, and local emergency services responded swiftly, but the severity of the crash left no survivors.

In addition to the two ministers, the fatalities include: Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Dr Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC); Mr Samuel Aboagye, former parliamentary candidate; Squadron Leader Peter; Flying Officer Twum Ampadu and Sergeant Ernest Addo.

In a statement, the Ghana Armed Forces confirmed that investigations have begun to determine the cause of the disaster. Preliminary reports suggest possible mechanical failure, though weather and other factors are also under review. The government is expected to address the nation in the coming days as Ghanaians come to terms with the loss.

This crash is one of the deadliest aviation tragedies in Ghana’s recent history, especially given the calibre of the officials involved. It comes just over a year after another GAF helicopter made an emergency landing in the Western Region without fatalities, raising renewed concerns about aircraft safety and maintenance in the country.