# Ghana military Harbin Z-9 helicopter crash

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2025/08/ghana-military-harbin-z-9-helicopter-crash/
- Published: 2025-08-07T14:36:42+01:00
- Author: Ekene Lionel

On 6 August, Ghana was struck by a devastating incident when a Harbin Z-9 military
helicopter crashed, killing all eight people on board, including two senior government
ministers and several high-ranking officials.

The helicopter had taken off from Accra, the nation’s capital, at 0912 hours, bound
for a mining conference in the Ashanti Region in the northwest of the country. However,
shortly after departure, it lost radar contact and disappeared from tracking systems.
Emergency crews later located the wreckage in a forested area near Adansi Akrofuom,
in the general vicinity of Sikaman, where they confirmed there were no survivors.
The crash claimed the lives of some of Ghana’s most prominent figures.

Among the deceased was Edward Omane Boamah, the Defence Minister, a seasoned politician
who had previously served as the Minister of Communications before his recent appointment
to lead the defence portfolio. Another key figure lost was Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed,
the Minister of Environment, Science, and Technology, whose role was vital in addressing
Ghana’s environmental and technological challenges.

The passengers also included Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, the acting deputy national 
security coordinator, a critical position in the country’s security apparatus, and
Samuel Sarpong, the vice chair of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) 
political party, a influential voice in Ghanaian politics. Samuel Aboagye, the deputy
director general of Ghana’s disaster relief agency, was also on board, alongside
three military personnel who crewed the helicopter: Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi
Anala, Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah. The loss
of these individuals, representing a mix of political, security, and military leadership,
sent shockwaves through the nation.

The Ghanaian government swiftly responded to the tragedy, with President John Mahama
and his administration issuing a statement describing the crash as a “national tragedy.”
Condolences were extended to the families of those who perished, reflecting the 
profound sense of loss felt across the country. Veronica Adzo Arhin, the Acting 
Director General of Public Relations for the Ghana Navy, provided an official account
of the incident, confirming that the helicopter had departed Accra en route to Obuasi
when it crashed. Her statement listed the names of the crew and passengers, underscoring
the high-profile nature of those on board and the gravity of the event.

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As of now, the cause of the crash remains unknown. Authorities have launched a comprehensive
investigation to determine what went wrong, with military officials stressing the
need to thoroughly examine all possible factors. The Harbin Z-9, a Chinese-manufactured
military utility helicopter, is at the centre of this inquiry. Produced by the Harbin
Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation, the Z-9 is a licence-built version of the French
Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin, adapted for various roles, including armed variants. Ghana
acquired four Z-9EH utility helicopters from China in September 2015, primarily 
to bolster security for its burgeoning oil and gas industry, a key economic sector
for the West African nation.

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The purchase was financed through a loan from the China Development Bank and came
with provisions for spare parts, maintenance facilities, and personnel training,
ensuring the helicopters could be effectively integrated into Ghana’s military operations.
This was not the first time the Harbin Z-9 has been involved in incidents across
African militaries. In 2019, both [Cameroon ](https://www.military.africa/2019/05/cameroonian-military-harbin-z-9-crash-one-killed/)
and [Mali ](https://www.military.africa/2019/01/malian-air-force-harbin-z-9-light-attack-helicopter-crash/)
experienced crashes involving this model, with losses reported in May and January,
respectively. These earlier incidents raise questions about the aircraft’s reliability
in the challenging operational environments of African nations, though no conclusions
have yet been drawn about the Ghana crash.

The ongoing investigation will likely explore whether mechanical failure, human 
error, or external factors such as weather conditions played a role in the tragedy.
The timing of this disaster compounds its impact. Ghana, like many West African 
countries, is grappling with increasing security threats, including the potential
spillover of instability from neighbouring states. The sudden deaths of the Defence
Minister and the acting deputy national security coordinator leave critical gaps
in the country’s security leadership at a precarious moment. Similarly, the loss
of the Environment Minister disrupts efforts to address pressing environmental issues,
which are closely tied to Ghana’s economic and social stability, particularly in
regions like the Ashanti, known for its mining activities.

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