A government investigation has concluded that the helicopter crash which claimed the lives of Ghana’s Defence Minister, Edward Omane Boamah, and Environment Minister, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, along with six others, was caused by severe weather conditions.
The Z9 military helicopter went down in a dense forest in August while en route from Accra to Obuasi for an event aimed at tackling illegal mining. There were no survivors.
According to the findings of a two-month probe, the aircraft lost altitude and lift after encountering a “downdraft” — a powerful downward current of air. Investigators said the helicopter was airworthy but noted that it lacked several modern safety and navigation systems.
“The 13-year-old helicopter did not have a terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS), which alerts pilots to potential ground collisions,” said Captain Paul Forjoe, a retired commercial pilot and aviation engineer who led the investigation panel.
The probe was jointly conducted by Ghanaian authorities, U.S. aviation experts, and the helicopter’s Chinese manufacturer.
Investigators recommended that the Ghana Air Force modernize its fleet to include upgraded safety and navigational equipment to prevent similar tragedies in the future.