A Ghana Armed Forces helicopter heading to Obuasi has gone missing. A press release from the Ghana Armed Forces states that the aircraft took off this morning at 9:00 a.m. It had 3 crew members and 5 passengers on board.
Further details to be communicated soon by the Ghana Armed Forces.
Update
Confirmed
On 6 August 2025, a Ghana Air Force Harbin Z-9 helicopter carrying eight people to an event about fighting illegal mining crashed into a forested mountainside in the Ashanti region of Ghana, killing all eight people on board. Among the dead were Ghana’s defence minister Edward Omane Boamah and environment minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed.
About the Aircraft
The aircraft involved in the crash was a Harbin Z-9EH military helicopter, a Chinese-made naval platform known for its versatility and rugged performance. The Z-9EH is a specialized variant of the Z-9 helicopter, itself a Chinese-licensed version of the French Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin. It is primarily used by the People’s Liberation Army Navy and other security forces for anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship operations and search and rescue missions.
People on Board the Aircraft and their profiles
The Minister of Defence Dr. Edward Omane Boamah
| Minister for Defence | |
|---|---|
| In office 30 January 2025 – 6 August 2025 | |
| President | John Mahama |
| Preceded by | Dominic Nitiwul |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| Minister for Communications | |
| In office 14 February 2013 – January 2017 | |
| President | John Mahama |
| Preceded by | Haruna Iddrisu |
| Succeeded by | Ursula Owusu |
| Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports | |
| In office February 2012 – January 2013 | |
| President | John Atta-Mills |
| Deputy Minister for Environment, Science and Technology | |
| In office April 2009 – February 2012 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Edward Kofi Omane Boamah 26 December 1975[1] Nkawkaw, Ghana |
| Died | 6 August 2025 (aged 49) Adansi District, Ashanti Region, Ghana |
| Political party | National Democratic Congress |
| Alma mater | University of Ghana Medical School London School of Economics London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine |
| Profession | Medical Practitioner Health Policy Planning and Financing Expert |
Minister for Environment Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed
| Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation | |
|---|---|
| In office February 2025 – 6 August 2025 | |
| President | John Mahama |
| Preceded by | Kwaku Afriyie |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry | |
| In office 16 July 2014 – 6 January 2017Serving with Kweku George Ricketts-Hagan | |
| President | John Mahama |
| Minister | Ekwow Spio-Garbrah |
| Preceded by | Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye |
| Succeeded by | Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah |
| Deputy Minister for Information | |
| In office March 2013 – 16 July 2014Serving with Felix Kwakye Ofosu | |
| President | John Mahama |
| Minister | Mahama Ayariga |
| Preceded by | Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa |
| Succeeded by | Felix Kwakye Ofosu |
| Member of Parliament | |
| In office 7 January 2021 – 6 August 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Inusah Fuseini |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| Constituency | Tamale Central |
| In office 2013 – 6 January 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Iddrisu Abdul-Kareem |
| Succeeded by | Mohammed Hardi Tuferu |
| Constituency | Nanton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 December 1974 Tamale, Ghana |
| Died | 6 August 2025 (aged 50) Adansi District, Ashanti Region, Ghana |
| Political party | NDC |
| Education | University of Ghana (BA, MA, PhD)Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (MSc)Mountcrest University College (LLB) |
| Occupation | Politiciandevelopment planner |
Acting deputy national security coordinator Limuna Mohammed Muniru
| President | John Dramani Mahama |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 August 1967 Ghana |
| Died | 6 August 2025 (aged 57) Ashanti Region, Ghana |
| Political party | NDC |
| Occupation | Politician |
Vice chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) Samuel Sarpong
| President | John Dramani Mahama |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 November 1957 Ejisu, Ashanti Region, Ghana |
| Died | 6 August 2025 (aged 67) Adansi District, Ashanti Region, Ghana |
| Political party | NDC |
Former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye
Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala
| Born | 22 November 1989 Siniensi, Builsa North Municipal District, Upper East Region, Ghana |
|---|---|
| Died | 6 August 2025 (aged 36) Adansi Akrofuom District, Ashanti Region, Ghana |
| Allegiance |  Ghana |
| Branch | Ghana Air Force |
| Rank | Squadron Leader |
Flying Officer Twum Ampadu
Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
