BY Issah Olegor
Ghana is mourning the loss of Flying Officer Twum Ampadu, a young and dedicated member of the Ghana Air Force, who tragically died in a military helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region on Wednesday, August 6, 2025.
Flying Officer Ampadu, a proud product of the 2013 graduating class of Aburi Secondary Technical School (Aburi Sectech), had dedicated his career to serving the nation through the Ghana Armed Forces.
Friends and former classmates remember him as a disciplined, determined, and patriotic individual who pursued his dream of aviation with unwavering focus.
The Tragic Mission
On the morning of the crash, Flying Officer Ampadu was part of the crew aboard a Ghana Air Force Z-9 military helicopter on an official assignment to Obuasi.
The aircraft, which carried eight people — including two cabinet ministers and other high-ranking government officials — suddenly went off radar before crashing into a remote part of the Adansi Akrofuom District.
By the time emergency responders reached the site, the wreckage was already engulfed in flames, leaving no survivors.
The accident claimed the lives of all on board, including Defence Minister Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, and senior NDC official Dr Samuel Sarpong.
Service To Country
Flying Officer Ampadu had risen through the ranks with distinction, completing rigorous military aviation training before joining the operational squadron.
His colleagues describe him as a skilled pilot and a team player whose calm demeanour under pressure made him an asset to the Ghana Air Force.
Community and School Tributes
In Aburi and among the 2013 Aburi Sectech year group, news of Ampadu’s death has been met with deep sorrow.
Alumni have taken to social media to share tributes and memories, recalling his leadership qualities during his school days and his pride in wearing the Ghana Air Force uniform.
“Rest well, soldier,” wrote one classmate. “You have served your country with honour, and your name will not be forgotten.”
A History of Aviation Concerns
This is the second high-profile military aviation incident in Ghana in just over a year. On March 19, 2024, another Ghana Air Force helicopter made an emergency landing near Bonsukrom in the Western Region during an offshore inspection mission.
While that incident resulted in no fatalities, it raised questions about aircraft maintenance and operational safety — issues likely to be revisited in the wake of this latest tragedy.
