New details from the investigation into the Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter crash on August 6, 2025, reveal that the three crew members had previously operated the aircraft in the days leading up to the accident. Aircraft Accident Investigator Captain Paul Forjoe, presenting findings on November 11, 2025, confirmed that the crew had conducted the helicopter’s last three flights before the crash.
Records indicate that the flights occurred on August 2, 3, and 4, 2025, involving varying missions. On August 2, the crew flew from Takoradi to Accra on a one-hour medical evacuation mission. The following day, they completed a round trip from Accra to Cape Coast for another medivac operation lasting one hour and twenty minutes. On August 4, they were tasked with a two-hour, thirty-minute bullion cargo flight before returning to Accra. Each flight was completed without incident.
The crew observed proper rest protocols in accordance with Ghana Air Force regulations, resting for a full day on August 5 before the ill-fated mission. The Air Force stipulates a maximum of ten flight hours per week and 62 hours per month, alongside mandatory rest periods of at least eight hours prior to duty. Investigators confirmed that the crew exceeded these rest requirements, ensuring they were physically and mentally prepared for the flight on August 6.
The tragic flight on August 6 involved a Z-9 helicopter transporting five high-ranking officials to the launch of the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) in the Obuasi area. The aircraft went down in the Dampa Range Forest Reserve, near Sikaman in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region. All eight occupants perished in the crash.
The officials on board included the Minister of Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah; the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed; the Vice-Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Samuel Sarpong; Samuel Aboagye, former parliamentary candidate for Obuasi East and Deputy Director-General of NADMO; and Alhaji Muniru Limuna Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator.
The crew members were Wing Commander Peter Bafemi Anala, Flight Lieutenant Malin Twum-Ampadu, and Flight Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah. Following the investigation, the three crew members were promoted posthumously in recognition of their service and dedication.
The investigation also highlighted that the helicopter itself complied with all basic safety protocols, though it lacked some additional safety enhancements. The crew’s qualifications, flight experience, and adherence to rest regulations were thoroughly examined to rule out human error as a cause. The findings aim to provide clarity on the circumstances surrounding one of Ghana’s most devastating military aviation accidents, while honoring the professionalism of the personnel involved.
