Investigators have recovered the black box from a Ghana Armed Forces helicopter that crashed in the forested Adansi Akrofuom District on Wednesday, killing several senior government and military officials, including the country’s Ministers for Defence and Environment.
Ashanti Regional Minister Dr. Frank Amoakohene confirmed the recovery Thursday in a statement, calling it a critical step toward determining the cause of one of Ghana’s deadliest military aviation accidents in recent memory.
The Z-9 military helicopter, operated by the Ghana Air Force, was en route to the gold-rich town of Obuasi when it went off radar. The aircraft later crashed in a densely wooded area, prompting a joint search operation by military personnel, local officials, and community members.
Among the dead were Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence; Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation; and Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator. Also killed were Samuel Aboagye, a former parliamentary candidate; Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC); and three Air Force crew members: Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
Amoakohene, writing in a Facebook post, said military investigators located the black box at the crash site early Thursday with assistance from local residents and the area’s Assembly Member, who guided them through the rugged terrain.
The black box, which records flight data and cockpit audio, is expected to offer key insights into the moments leading up to the crash. Preliminary findings on the cause of the incident have not yet been released.
Meanwhile, authorities have flown biological samples of the deceased to South Africa for DNA testing to aid in formal identification.
The Ghana Armed Forces and national security officials are leading the probe, with support from international aviation experts expected in the coming days, according to people familiar with the investigation.
