Takoradi Air Force Base Mourns Loss of Three Crew Members in Tragic Helicopter Crash
A profound sense of loss grips the Western Region as it mourns the deaths of three Ghana Air Force personnel from Takoradi Air Force Base, who perished in the devastating Z9 helicopter crash in Adansi Akrofuom, Ashanti Region, on Wednesday, August 6, 2025.
The crew—Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala (pilot), Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampedu (co-pilot), and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah (flight technician)—were among the eight fatalities in the tragedy that also claimed the lives of two Cabinet Ministers and senior officials.
Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson, leading a condolence delegation, expressed the region’s deep sorrow. “The whole country is grieving, but particularly the Western Region. All the crew members were from Takoradi Air Force Base, and we have been hit directly by this unfortunate accident,” he said after visiting the family of Flying Officer Twum-Ampedu, whose wife, Naval Lieutenant Ewuradwoa Kumi-Kyeremah, serves as a psychologist with the 2-Garrison.
The helicopter, en route from Accra to Obuasi for the launch of the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), lost radar contact at 09:12 GMT and crashed into a tree, bursting into flames. The full list of victims, confirmed by Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, includes:
Dr. Edward Omane Boamah – Minister for Defence
Dr. Alhaji Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed – MP for Tamale Central and Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation
Alhaji Muniru Mohammed – Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator
Dr. Samuel Sarpong – Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress
Samuel Aboagye – Former Parliamentary Candidate
Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala – Pilot
Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampedu – Co-pilot
Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah – Flight Technician
Flag Officer Commanding the Western Naval Command, Commodore Samuel Ayelazono, called the incident “one of the most painful in recent memory,” emphasizing the need for collective support to navigate the grief. “Every comfort is required to strengthen us through this difficulty,” he said during the condolence visit.
Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, describing the crash as a “national tragedy,” ordered all national flags to fly at half-mast in honor of the deceased. The Ghana Armed Forces continues to investigate the cause of the crash, with preliminary reports citing possible adverse weather conditions, though no official conclusion has been reached.
The nation mourns, but the pain is particularly acute in Takoradi, where the loss of three dedicated airmen has left a void in the community and the armed forces. As investigations proceed, the Western Region stands in solidarity with the grieving families, honoring the sacrifice of those who served Ghana.
