Two tragic aviation incidents, separated by six decades but tied by geography and grief, have cast a somber shadow over the Adansi area in Ghana’s Ashanti Region.
In 1965, a small aircraft crash in Adansi Asokwa claimed three lives, including two foreign nationals.
While archival documentation remains limited, the incident is remembered as one of Ghana’s earliest post-independence aviation tragedies.
It highlighted the country’s initial struggles with aviation safety and infrastructure in a period marked by rapid national transformation.
Now, in a grim echo of that event, Adansi has once again become the scene of a devastating air disaster.
On Wednesday 6th August 2025, a Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) Z-9 military helicopter en route from Accra to Obuasi crashed into a tree in the Adansi Akrofuom District and burst into flames after losing radar contact.
All eight individuals on board perished, marking one of the country’s deadliest air accidents in recent memory.
Among the victims were high-ranking government and military officials including Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister of Defence, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Minister of Environment, Dr. Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Samuel Aboagye, former parliamentary candidate, Squadron Leader Peter, pilot, Flying Officer Twum Ampadu and Sergeant Ernest Addo.
Eyewitnesses described the crash scene as horrifying. “After the crash, everything went silent. Residents who rushed to the scene found the helicopter in flames,” recounted Matthew Baah, the local assembly member. Initial reports indicated that the wreckage was engulfed in fire upon impact, with severe burns complicating identification and recovery of the bodies.
Investigators are currently probing the cause of the crash. Preliminary assessments suggest that poor weather conditions may have contributed to the fatal incident. Military and civil aviation authorities are leading the investigation, with further updates expected in the coming days.
This week’s tragedy has drawn national mourning and renewed concerns over aircraft safety protocols, particularly in areas prone to adverse flying conditions. The incident not only mirrors the loss experienced in 1965 but also underscores the ongoing risks faced by personnel in service to the nation.
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Ghana Airforce Z-9 Helicopter Goes Missing en Route to Obuasi, Rescue Efforts Underway
Source: www.kumasimail.com
