Security Analyst Colonel Festus Aboagye (Rtd.) has called on the government to make public the full findings of the investigative report into the August 6 helicopter crash that claimed eight lives, including two serving ministers and senior security officials.
The retired army officer made the appeal during an interview, following the presentation of the final crash report to President John Dramani Mahama by the investigative committee at the Jubilee House earlier in the week.
The call, he insisted, is necessary to ensure transparency, accountability, and public confidence in the management of national emergencies. “I have seen snippets of it on social media. We deserve, as Ghanaians – as a country – to see the report beyond the presentation,” Col. Aboagye stressed.
He argued that the scale of the tragedy made it imperative for the government to release the full document for public scrutiny.
“This is a public interest issue. The loss of lives has affected several people and institutions, and it raises fundamental concerns about our preparedness and ability to manage emergencies and reduce disasters”
Colonel Festus Aboagye (Rtd.), Security Analyst
Earlier, the investigative committee, chaired by Acting Defence Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, concluded that the Ghana Air Force helicopter, which crashed en route to Obuasi, suffered a sudden loss of altitude caused by a strong downdraft while flying through unstable weather conditions.
The report, submitted on November 10, established that both pilots were “highly qualified and fully competent,” effectively ruling out human error as a major factor.
According to official accounts, the Z-9 helicopter departed Accra at approximately 9:12 a.m. on August 6 for an anti-illegal mining event in the Ashanti Region. Less than an hour into the flight, radar contact was lost. The aircraft went down in a forested area, killing all eight people on board.
Among the deceased were Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Muniru Mohammed Limuna, NDC Vice-Chair Samuel Sarpong, former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu, and Flight Technician Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
Accountability and Institutional Learning
Col. Aboagye underscored that making the report public would not only promote transparency but also strengthen institutional learning across Ghana’s security and aviation systems.
He cautioned that withholding the findings could erode public trust and hinder reforms aimed at preventing similar disasters. “The real question we should be asking is, should that flight have been executed in the first place?” he queried, highlighting the need for stricter operational risk assessments within the Ghana Air Force.
He added that every fatal aviation incident should result in actionable lessons and policy adjustments rather than mere reports that remain classified or forgotten.
In his view, comprehensive public disclosure would demonstrate the government’s commitment to accountability and the safety of national service personnel.
Lessons Beyond the Crash
Col. Aboagye also referenced recent tragedies, including the El-Wak Sports Stadium stampede during the Ghana Armed Forces recruitment exercise, as further evidence of systemic lapses in institutional planning and coordination.
“The stampede might have been avoided if the over 21,000 recruits had been scheduled in groups and informed by text message,” he observed.
He noted that both the helicopter crash and the recruitment disaster exposed weaknesses in administrative foresight and crisis management, adding that reforms must go beyond surface-level investigations to embrace proactive risk management and technology-driven coordination.
The presentation of the investigative report to President Mahama was followed by a closed-door National Security Council briefing, during which the President reportedly commended the committee for its swift and thorough work.
While parts of the presentation exist online, the government has yet to issue an official release of the full documented report.
Calls are now mounting for the full report to be made public. Observers argue that transparency will not only honour the memory of the deceased but also enhance public confidence in the integrity of Ghana’s security institutions.
As Ghanaians continue to mourn the loss of the eight officials who perished in the crash, Col. Aboagye’s call represents a broader national demand for openness, accountability, and institutional learning in the wake of one of the most devastating aviation disasters in recent years.
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