A Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) helicopter flying the routine Accra–Obuasi route has crashed in devastating fashion, killing all eight people on board and reducing the aircraft to ashes after it collided with a tree near Adansi Akrofuom in the Ashanti Region.
The aircraft, which reportedly operates the Obuasi route every Wednesday, disappeared from radar shortly before the tragic crash. Witnesses in the community described a loud, deafening noise followed by an eerie silence, before the wreckage erupted into flames.
Matthew Baah, Assembly Member for the area, confirmed the incident in an interview with Adom FM’s Kasiebo Is Tasty, recounting how he was working on his farm when he received news of the crash.
“After the crash, everything went silent. Residents who rushed to the scene found the helicopter in flames,” Mr. Baah said.
Initial reports from the crash site indicated the presence of four dismembered bodies. However, a subsequent statement from the Ghana Armed Forces clarified that the Z-9 military helicopter had a total of eight occupants—three crew members and five passengers, all of whom were reportedly on their way to a high-profile event in Obuasi.
The fiery impact left the helicopter completely incinerated, making identification of the bodies extremely difficult. Recovery teams are working under challenging conditions to retrieve remains and begin formal identification of the victims.
Though investigations are still ongoing, preliminary accounts suggest that poor weather conditions may have contributed to the accident. Aviation safety officers and military investigators are now on site to examine wreckage and determine the cause of the crash.
The incident has sent shockwaves across the nation, raising concerns about aviation safety protocols and the security of high-level officials traveling by air.
The Ghana Armed Forces have promised a full inquiry and pledged to update the public as new findings emerge. The names of the victims have not yet been released, pending official confirmation and notification
