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The lead investigator into the August 6 military helicopter crash, Captain (Rtd) Paul Forjoe, has disclosed that poor weather conditions were a major contributing factor to the tragedy that claimed eight lives, including senior government officials and military officers.
Speaking at a public briefing on Tuesday, November 11, Captain Forjoe revealed that the Harbin Z-9 helicopter’s departure from Accra was delayed by nearly an hour due to deteriorating weather conditions across southern Ghana.
“The flight was originally scheduled to depart at 8:00 a.m. with an estimated flight time of about 50 minutes,” he said. “However, visibility in Accra, Kumasi, and Obuasi was severely limited due to mist, drizzle, and low clouds. The helicopter finally departed at 9:12 a.m. when conditions appeared to improve slightly.”
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According to Captain Forjoe, meteorological data and eyewitness accounts confirmed that visibility at some locations dropped to as low as 200 metres, creating dangerous flight conditions.
“On the day of the flight, the visibility was much worse than usual. In Accra, it was about five to seven kilometres with very low clouds starting at only 700 to 1,100 feet above the ground,” he noted. “As the flight progressed, drizzle reduced visibility further to around four kilometres, with low clouds hovering between 600 and 900 feet.”
He further explained that the pilots relied solely on weather reports from Accra and Kumasi aerodromes, as no formal meteorological data was available for the area between these locations.
“Eyewitnesses from Brofoyedru and nearby areas also reported fog and rain, which worsened conditions around the crash site,” Captain Forjoe added.
The investigation determined that a sudden and powerful downdraft—a dangerous downward air current common over hilly and forested terrain—was ultimately responsible for the crash.
“The environmental conditions in the forest reserve, with its mountainous and rugged landscape, created turbulence and downdrafts that made flying extremely difficult,” he explained.
The Harbin Z-9EH helicopter, operated by the Ghana Air Force, was on an anti-illegal mining mission from Accra to Obuasi when it lost radar contact and crashed in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region.
All eight people on board perished in the crash. They were:
- Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampofo
- Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence
- Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology
- Muniru Mohammed Limuna, 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 Bafemi Anala
Captain Forjoe concluded that the tragedy underscores the urgent need for enhanced meteorological support for low-altitude operations, particularly in Ghana’s central and forested regions, to prevent future disasters.
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