BY Daniel Bampoe
The National Democratic Congress government has confirmed the receipt of DNA results identifying the victims of the August 6, 2025 military helicopter crash, marking a significant step in the investigation and funeral preparations.
The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh formally received the results from South Africa upon arrival at Kotoka International Airport in Accra.
The samples had been sent abroad following the government’s decision that the extent of damage to the victims’ remains made local identification impossible.
While the 37 Military Hospital initially planned to handle the process, authorities opted for “more sophisticated forensic processes” available outside the country.
The tragic crash, which occurred in the dense forest of the Adansi Akrofuom District in the Ashanti Region, claimed the lives of all eight people on board the Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter. Among the deceased were some of the most prominent public figures: Minister for Defence Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Vice Chairman of NDC Dr. Samuel Sarpong, former Obuasi East parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye, and Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Limuna.
The three military crew members who perished were Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flight Officer Manaen Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah—each described by colleagues as highly experienced and dedicated servicemen.
In a major development, military investigators have retrieved the helicopter’s Black Box from the crash site.
The device, which contains critical flight data and cockpit communications, is expected to shed light on the sequence of events leading to the crash.
Analysts say it could be key to determining whether technical failure, weather conditions, or other factors caused Ghana’s deadliest peacetime aviation disaster in recent history.
The Black Box was found during a search operation conducted the morning after the crash, with security forces braving difficult terrain and thick forest cover. It has since been secured for analysis by aviation experts.
Following the incident, the remains of the victims were flown to Accra’s Air Force Base under heavy military escort.
The sombre ceremony, attended by Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, senior government officials, military top brass, and grieving relatives, saw coffins draped in the national flag received with prayers and a minute’s silence.
