Defence Ministry begins probe into fatal helicopter crash

The Ministry of Defence has formally inaugurated an Investigation Board to probe the circumstances surrounding the August 6, 2025, helicopter crash that claimed the lives of eight people, including senior government officials and officers of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

In a statement signed by the Caretaker Minister of Defence, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Ministry assured Ghanaians that the inquiry would be thorough, transparent, and completed within 30 days.

Composition of the Board

The Board is chaired by the National Security Coordinator and includes technical experts from the Ghana Air Force as well as the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

The United States Air Force has also dispatched visiting investigators to provide technical advice and assistance.

Forson indicated that the Board has the discretion to invite additional experts, both local and international, to support its work where necessary.

Preliminary Findings and Next Steps

The Ministry disclosed that on the very day of the crash, a preliminary investigation team was deployed to the scene to secure evidence and gather information.

That team is expected to present its findings to the Board as part of the groundwork for the broader probe.

The Board’s primary task, according to the Defence Ministry, is to establish the root cause of the disaster—whether technical failure, operational error, or external interference—and to make safety recommendations to prevent future occurrences.

National Significance of the Inquiry

Forson emphasized that the tragic crash has placed a heavy responsibility on the Ministry and the military establishment to provide answers not only to the families of the victims but to the entire nation.

“The government is committed to ensuring that the facts are uncovered and that the lessons learned will help improve the safety of our military aviation operations,” the statement assured.

Background to the Crash

The fatal incident occurred on Wednesday, August 6, when a military helicopter went down during an official operation, killing all eight people on board.

Among the dead were Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed.

The crash sparked widespread speculation, with some reports attributing it to ageing equipment in Ghana’s fleet of Chinese-built Z-9 helicopters, while others suggested possible mechanical failure or external interference.

The Board’s work is therefore seen as critical in clarifying conflicting accounts and restoring public confidence in the operational safety of the Ghana Air Force.

Calls for Transparency

Civil society organizations and aviation safety experts have urged the Ministry to make the final report public. For them, transparency and accountability in this probe will be a defining test of the government’s credibility in handling military aviation safety.