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Bad Weather, Not Mechanical Fault, Likely Cause of Fatal Helicopter Crash – Maj. (Rtd.) Derrick Oduro
Former Deputy Defence Minister Major (Rtd) Derrick Oduro has dismissed speculation that a mechanical fault may have caused Wednesday’s military helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region, which claimed the lives of eight people, including two government ministers.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, Maj. Oduro stressed that the Ghana Air Force’s strict maintenance and safety protocols make technical failure highly improbable.
“This can only be about bad weather and not a faulty helicopter. I’ve used that same aircraft several times without any issues. The military follows rigorous checklists before every flight. Accidents like this rarely happen,” he asserted.
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He explained that military aircraft are subjected to detailed pre-flight inspections and are flown by highly disciplined and well-trained personnel, making crashes extremely rare.
The fatal incident on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, involved a Ghana Air Force Z‑9 helicopter carrying five high-profile government officials and three crew members en route from Accra to Obuasi for official duties. The aircraft went off radar and later crashed in a forested area, bursting into flames and leaving no survivors.
The victims include:
Civilians:
- Dr Edward Omane Boamah – Minister for Defence
- Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed – Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation
- Alhaji Muniru Mohammed – Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator
- Dr Samuel Sarpong – Vice Chairman, National Democratic Congress (NDC)
- Samuel Aboagye – Former parliamentary candidate
Military Crew:
- Squadron Leader Peter Anala
- Flying Officer Twum Ampadu
- Sergeant Ernest Addo
Chief of Staff Julius Debrah described the incident as a “national tragedy” and announced that all national flags will fly at half-mast until further notice in honour of the victims.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the crash, though early indications point to adverse weather conditions.
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