The investigative committee probing the tragic August 6, 2025, crash of a Ghana Air Force Harbin Z-9EH helicopter has revealed that the aircraft suddenly lost height and impacted a ridge line, leading to the loss of all eight lives on board.
Captain Paul Fordjoe, the lead investigator, detailed the sequence of events during a media briefing on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, stating that the helicopter, tail number GHF 631, took off from Kotoka International Airport in Accra at 9:12 a.m., en route to Obuasi in the Ashanti Region for an event on tackling illegal mining at the Obuasi Black Park.
He revealed that the crew having run into bad weather, transitioned from navigating using visual cues to solely navigating using the aircraft’s instruments.
He said the crew during the flight initiated a climb to cross a terrain. He said the crew right before impact reported to have gone over the terrain and could see a high ground below.
“Suddenly, thereafter, the helicopter that was flying up without any change in its power or in the pitch which we use to go up and down, suddenly lost height and impacted the ridge line at about 1,370 feet above sea level. This was about six and a half miles from the destination, and this happened at 9:58,” Capt. Fordjoe explained.
He added that the committee, as part of the investigation, determined that the accident was caused by a sudden loss of altitude and lift due to downdraft. The downdraft, according to the committee, was consistent with changing environmental conditions over the terrain.
Captain Fordjoe, however, said the helicopter was in good condition but lacked additional safety requirements.
The presentation also elaborated on further details around the crash as well as recommendations by the committee.
The committee, chaired by National Security Coordinator DCOP Abdul-Osman Razak, included representatives from the Ghana Air Force and the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIB-Ghana), with technical advisory support from the United States Air Force.
The final report was submitted to President John Dramani Mahama at a National Security Council meeting on Monday, November 10, 2025, following months of intensive analysis, including recovery of the flight recorder a day after the incident.
The victims included Minister of Defence Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Environment Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, acting deputy national security coordinator Limuna Mohammed Muniru, vice chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress Samuel Sarpong, former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
The wreckage was located in a forested mountainside near Adansi Akrofuom in the Ashanti Region, where a post-crash fire rendered the bodies unrecognizable.