BY Daniel Bampoe
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has broken its silence on the controversial use of sacks in recovering the remains of victims from the August 6, 2025, military helicopter crash, explaining that extreme burns and challenging environmental conditions made standard body bags unusuitable.
The crash, which claimed eight lives—including three military personnel and five civilians—occurred when a Z-9 helicopter went off radar en route from Accra to Obuasi for an anti-illegal mining event.
On board were senior government officials, including Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah; Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed; former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye; NDC Vice Chairman Samuel Sarpong; and Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Limuna. The military crew comprised Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manaen Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
The tragedy triggered a national outpouring of grief, prompting the government to declare three days of mourning, beginning August 7, with a flower-laying ceremony.
A memorial service followed on August 9, ahead of a state funeral set for August 15 at Black Star Square.
In the days following the crash, videos surfaced showing personnel carrying the victims’ remains in cocoa sacks, sparking public criticism and accusations of unpreparedness.
Addressing the issue on August 13 during a visit by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General William Agyapong firmly rejected claims that body bags were unavailable.
“We had body bags at the scene,” he stated. “But the remains were so badly burnt—so hot—that it was not safe or practical to place them in the bags. This was a thick forest area, the light was fading, and we were operating on steep terrain. We had the option of leaving the bodies there overnight, but we knew what would happen to them.”
He explained that the decision to use sacks was made by the recovery team on-site, who opted for “the safest and most feasible method” under the circumstances.
The remains were carried up steep ground to meet the waiting medical team at the foot of the hill.
The Chief of Defence Staff also revealed that the helicopter’s black box had been retrieved and was awaiting examination by international experts and the aircraft’s manufacturers to determine the cause of the crash.
He noted that the operation was the fastest recovery of a helicopter crash in Ghana’s history.
Search teams are still combing the crash site to locate any remaining wreckage and human remains.
“Personnel on the ground are expanding the search daily,” Agyapong said. “We do not yet know the full extent of the wreckage.”
The accident occurred shortly after the helicopter departed Accra at 09:12 GMT. It was last tracked over the Ashanti Region before contact was lost, triggering an immediate search-and-rescue mission that tragically confirmed no survivors.
