Black Box recovered from military helicopter crash that killed top Ghanaian officials
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, has confirmed the recovery of the black box from the Ghana Armed Forces Z-9 helicopter that crashed in the Adansi Akrofuom District on Wednesday, August 6, killing several senior government and military officials.
In a Facebook update on Thursday, August 7, Dr. Amoakohene revealed that a team of investigators successfully retrieved the flight recorder from the wreckage—a critical development in efforts to determine the cause of the crash.
The recovery team, comprised of Ghana Air Force personnel and other military operatives, was joined by local residents and the Assembly Member for the area, who helped navigate the rugged forest terrain to the remote crash site.
The incident, one of Ghana’s most catastrophic air disasters in recent memory, claimed the lives of Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed.
Also among the dead were Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Samuel Aboagye, a former parliamentary candidate; and Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). All three crew members—Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah—also perished.
Preliminary information suggests the helicopter was en route to Obuasi when it lost contact with air traffic control, triggering a rapid search effort involving both military personnel and local authorities.
The black box is expected to yield vital information about the helicopter’s final moments, helping investigators understand what led to the fatal crash.
Meanwhile, samples from the victims’ remains have been flown to South Africa for DNA analysis to assist with formal identification.
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