Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Haruna Mohammed, has called on the government to take swift and decisive action to implement the recommendations of the investigative committee on the August 6, 2025, helicopter crash, which claimed eight lives, including two cabinet ministers.
He emphasised that the tragic incident underscores the urgent need for Ghana to modernise its Air Force fleet to ensure safety and operational efficiency.
The committee’s recently released report outlined several key safety concerns within the Ghana Air Force and made strong recommendations for an overhaul of its aviation infrastructure. The findings highlighted the need for the “acquisition of modern, safer aircraft equipped with advanced systems capable of preventing similar disasters.”
According to the report, Ghana must prioritise the acquisition of aircraft fitted with terrain avoidance warning systems, advanced navigation tools, and audiovisual-capable flight data recorders. It also called for the installation of modern flight simulators for recurrent pilot training and urged the government to engage certified aviation experts to supervise future procurement and maintenance.
The committee, which worked under the supervision of National Security Coordinator Abdul-Osman Razak in collaboration with the Ghana Air Force, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), and international aviation specialists, also recommended upgrading ground support equipment and developing navigational aids in remote operational areas.
“The modernisation of the Air Force fleet is essential to enhance operational safety and prevent future air disasters,” the report stated.
Reacting to the committee’s findings, Haruna Mohammed said the report validates long-standing calls for the acquisition of serviceable and modern aircraft to replace Ghana’s aging fleet, noting that the government must ensure that the procurement process remains transparent, with clear guidelines on scope and structure.
“Once this is a report coming from a technical view, we must get our act right and ensure all the new features of a modern aircraft are incorporated. We must be mindful that we are buying something that will serve the people of Ghana for the longest time, not to serve somebody’s pocket”
Haruna Mohammed, NPP Deputy General Secretary
Tragedy, Investigation and Welfare
The helicopter crash on August 6, 2025, occurred when a Harbin Z-9EH military helicopter (tail number GHF 631) operated by the Ghana Air Force lost radar contact after departing Accra at about 9:12 a.m. for Obuasi. The aircraft crashed in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region, killing all eight on board.
Among the victims were Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence; Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology; Muniru Mohammed Limuna, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Samuel Sarpong, NDC Vice-Chair; and Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala.
The committee’s technical investigation concluded that the crash resulted from a sudden loss of altitude and lift caused by a powerful downdraft over high terrain. This finding, the report added, was consistent with severe weather interference that overwhelmed the helicopter’s limited navigational capabilities.
Haruna Mohammed also called for consistent government reporting to Parliament on the welfare of the crash victims’ families and the measures taken to support them. “What the government wants to do should always be checked and reviewed,” he said.
He further noted that regular reviews of such welfare reports are essential to ensure accountability and sustained assistance to affected families.
Haruna Mohammed maintained that the crash serves as a painful but important lesson on the consequences of delayed modernisation within critical state institutions. He urged the government to avoid bureaucratic delays in implementing the report’s recommendations and to treat aviation safety as a national priority, not a partisan issue.
“The recent helicopter crash vindicates earlier calls for the acquisition of reliable and serviceable aircraft,” he stated, insisting that proactive investment in the Air Force fleet could have prevented the tragedy.
As Ghana continues to mourn the victims, the committee’s findings and recommendations have reignited debate on the country’s aviation capacity and the safety standards of its military equipment.
The call by Haruna Mohammed adds pressure on President John Dramani Mahama’s administration to demonstrate firm political will in addressing the systemic lapses identified in the report.
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