Hot Source.. Senior Air Force Officers could be culpable
Details emerging from military circles suggest bad weather, inexperience and human error were the causes of the helicopter crash that claimed the life of Defence Minister, Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah and the seven others on Wednesday, raising questions about the independence of the investigation to be conducted by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
Accusations are already being levelled at the military authorities, particularly the Ghana Air Force, for assigning an inexperienced pilot to the aircraft transporting two cabinet ministers, two former ministers, a deputy national coordinator of NADMO, and other soldiers.
President John Dramani Mahama, on Wednesday, declared three days of national mourning over the deaths. He followed this yesterday, Thursday, August 7, with a national address at the Jubilee House, his first since the tragic incident.
The President expressed deep sorrow over the loss and extended condolences to the victims’ families. While calling for national unity during the period of mourning, he acknowledged the public’s demand for answers. He emphasised the government’s commitment to uncovering the truth behind the crash, assuring Ghanaians that no detail would be concealed.
“As we mourn, questions about the cause of this tragedy are natural and important. I want to assure the families and the nation that the Ghana Armed Forces has initiated a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances of this crash,” the President said.
“An Investigative Board of Inquiry has been set up to investigate the cause of the crash. The flight data and cockpit voice recorders have been retrieved. All eight bodies of our departed comrades have been recovered, and the government is in close touch with the bereaved families regarding identification and final interment.”
Experts have suggested three possible scenarios for the causes of the crash.
Some suspect mechanical failure, suggesting a possible technical fault with the aircraft. Others have pointed to bad weather, as it had rained on the morning of the crash, with cloudy and foggy conditions. A third group blames human error on the part of the pilot, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala.
The Herald’s sources indicate that the maintenance record of the Chinese-made aircraft Z9-EH, procured by the Ghana Gas Company for pipeline inspection, was in excellent standing, effectively ruling out mechanical problems.
However, critics argue that Squadron Leader Anala’s lack of experience flying the mountainous and forested route may have contributed to the disaster. He is said to have qualified as a pilot only recently and had returned from a training programme in the UK less than a week before the crash.
Given the poor visibility on the day, cloudy skies, rain, and fog, some believe he should have aborted the flight or opted for a crash landing rather than attempting to navigate the dangerous route.
This route reportedly features two mountains with a narrow passage between them, which most helicopter pilots must carefully manoeuvre through.
Reports from the Ghana Air Force, corroborated by the Office of the President, recall a similar incident involving President Mahama in the past. On that occasion, the pilot, unlike Squadron Leader Anala, had flown the route before and was experienced enough to avoid colliding with the mountains.
Some residents of Sikakrom, who saw the aircraft last Wednesday shortly before the crash, recalled a similar experience eight years ago, when a helicopter made an emergency landing on a football field due to bad weather.
Witnesses said the doomed helicopter was flying unusually low and appeared to be preparing for an emergency landing when they heard a loud crash. Rushing to the scene, they found the aircraft engulfed in flames, making rescue impossible. Some report the helicopter hit a tall tree and smashed into the mountain, sparking the fire. The charred remains of eight victims were later retrieved and placed in cocoa sacks.
One Captain Michael Yao Foli, a respected aviation analyst, has underscored the need for an independent investigation into the military helicopter crash.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story yesterday ahead of President Mahama’s address, Captain Foli explained: “Essentially, this is normal aviation practice. There is an independent investigative board that investigates aircraft accidents.”
He clarified that the investigative body should ideally be the Independent Accident Investigation Board (IAIB) or a similarly autonomous institution, not a committee appointed by the military or the presidency.
“If it is this independent accident investigation board, then it satisfies ICAO regulations,” he noted, referring to the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s global aviation safety standards.
While the military may conduct its own internal reviews, Captain Foli stressed that the official and authoritative findings must come from an independent body to ensure credibility and transparency.
Among the deceased in Wednesday’s crash were Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah and Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed.
Also killed were Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Samuel Aboagye, a former parliamentary candidate; and Dr Samuel Sarpong, National Vice-Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Deputy Coordinator at the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).
The three Air Force personnel operating the ill-fated GAF Z-9 helicopter, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flight Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah, also perished during the official flight to Obuasi.
Yesterday, the President, the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt General William Agyapong, and ruling party officials laid flowers at a short ceremony inside the Jubilee House. Tributes will continue through Saturday, culminating in a national memorial event at the State House in the evening.
President Mahama again called for unity and urged political actors and the public to avoid exploiting the tragedy for political gain.
“In this moment of national grief, let us remember that we are, above all, Ghanaians, united not just by nationality but by shared hope, shared humanity, and now, shared sorrow. This is not a time for division, speculation, or political point-scoring.”
The President described the eight victims as “heroes” who had made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation, and announced a state funeral in their honour.
The interdenominational funeral will take place on Friday, August 15, at the Black Star Square in Accra.
“For the sacrifice they made in service to our nation, they deserve our highest honours,” he said.
“My brothers and sisters, countrymen and women, may God bless their souls,” he concluded solemnly, calling for continued prayers and support for the grieving families.
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