Mahama establishes Board of Inquiry to probe deadly military helicopter crash

President John Dramani Mahama has announced the formation of a formal Board of Inquiry to investigate the military helicopter crash that claimed the lives of eight Ghanaians on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region.

In a national address delivered Thursday evening, the President acknowledged the collective grief and growing public demand for answers in the wake of the tragedy.

“Questions about the cause of this tragedy are natural and important. I want to assure the families and the nation that the Ghana Armed Forces has initiated a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances of this crash,” President Mahama stated.

The government confirmed that the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder—commonly referred to as the black box—have already been recovered. These vital components are expected to play a central role in the investigation, which will cover both technical and operational aspects of the incident.

The Board of Inquiry will begin work immediately, tasked with uncovering the events that led to the fatal crash and making recommendations to prevent future occurrences.

The helicopter was carrying five senior government officials and three Ghana Air Force crew members on official duty when it went down. There were no survivors. Among the victims were prominent public servants whose loss has sent shockwaves across the nation.

The announcement comes as Ghana observes three days of national mourning, from August 7 to 9. Flags across the country are flying at half-mast in tribute to the fallen.

Reaffirming his government’s dedication to accountability and transparency, President Mahama stated, “The dignity of the lives lost demands answers, and we owe that to the families, the Armed Forces, and the entire nation.”