A tragic military helicopter crash in the thick forests near Sikan and Bofro in the Adansi Akrofuom District has left eight people dead, including top government officials and military officers.

The victims included Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, the Defence Minister, and Alhaji Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation. Also among the deceased were Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Dr. Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC); Samuel Aboagye, a former parliamentary candidate; and three Ghana Armed Forces crew members: Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah. They were traveling to Obuasi for the launch of the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme, an initiative targeting illegal mining, when the accident occurred.

Ivan Bila, Ashanti Region’s Deputy Security Coordinator, confirmed that security forces—including military, police, and fire service personnel—recovered all eight bodies from the crash site. The remains, severely charred, were placed in sacks and taken for forensic examination to confirm identities before being handed over to their families. The rescue operation was arduous, with teams trekking through difficult terrain for more than two hours to reach the wreckage, which was stuck in a tree on a mountainside near Adanse Brofoyedu.

Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion before the Ghana Armed Forces Z-9 helicopter, which had departed Accra at 09:12 local time, disappeared from radar and crashed. The cause remains unknown, though investigators are examining the wreckage, including the black box, to determine what went wrong. The military has cordoned off the area, and a joint military-civilian inquiry has been set up to probe the incident.

Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, addressing the media, called the crash a "national tragedy" and declared a period of mourning, with flags to be flown at half-mast across the country. The government offered condolences to the bereaved families, promising full support. Local leaders, including Ashanti Regional Minister Dr. Frank Amoakohene, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of prominent figures and servicemen.