Ghana Helicopter Crash: Black Boxes Recovered

Ghanaian authorities have recovered the black boxes from the military helicopter that went down on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of eight people, including two senior cabinet members.

Among those who lost their lives were Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed. Both were 50 years old.

In a national broadcast, President John Mahama pledged a thorough probe into the circumstances that led to the fatal crash.

The president noted that both the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder — commonly referred to as “black boxes” — had been located, and that the armed forces were carrying out “a full and transparent investigation.”

“I shared a bond with many of those who died. Our nation is grieving,” Mahama told Ghanaians.

The helicopter, identified as a Z9 model, had three crew members and five passengers aboard when it went down in a forested area of the Ashanti region. The flight was en route from Accra to Obuasi, where the officials were scheduled to attend an event focused on addressing illegal mining. No one survived the incident.

Recovery teams have located the remains of all eight victims. Samples from the bodies have been sent to South Africa for detailed forensic examination and confirmation.

Also among those who perished were Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, who previously served as Agriculture Minister and was Deputy National Security Coordinator, and Samuel Sarpong, Vice-Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress.

A state memorial is scheduled to take place on August 15 in honour of the victims.

Preliminary reports suggest that poor weather conditions may have played a role in the crash, though investigators are awaiting data from the recovered black boxes to verify the cause. Aviation experts from Ghana’s Civil Aviation Authority and international partners are expected to collaborate on the investigation.

Flags across the country have been lowered to half-mast as Ghanaians mourn the loss of some of their most prominent public servants. Candlelight vigils have already begun in Accra, Kumasi, and other major cities, with citizens expressing sorrow and solidarity.

The tragic crash has sparked renewed conversations around the safety of government aircraft and the need for stricter maintenance protocols. Lawmakers have called for an audit of the nation’s military aviation assets to prevent future occurrences.