Tragic Helicopter Crash in Adansi Akrofuom Leaves Eight Feared Dead, GAF Loses Contact with Aircraft
A Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) helicopter, identified as a Z-9, crashed in a fiery accident at Adansi Akrofuom in the Ashanti Region on Wednesday morning, August 6, 2025, with all eight occupants feared dead.
The aircraft, en route from Accra to Obuasi, was carrying three crew members and five passengers to attend the launch of the government’s Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) when it slammed into a tree and burst into flames, leaving the wreckage unrecognizable.
The tragic incident, reported by local Assembly Member Matthew Baah during an interview on Adom FM’s Kasiebo Is Tasty, occurred under unclear circumstances. Baah, who was working on his farm when he received a distress call, recounted, “After the crash, everything went silent. Residents who rushed to the scene found the helicopter in flames.” Initial observations at the crash site revealed dismembered body parts, suggesting at least four fatalities, though the exact number and identities remain unconfirmed.
The Ghana Armed Forces issued a statement confirming that the helicopter, which operates the Accra–Obuasi route weekly, went off radar after departing Accra at 9:12 a.m. Efforts to locate the aircraft and re-establish communication are ongoing, with emergency response teams dispatched to the scene. While the cause of the crash is under investigation, Baah suggested that poor weather conditions may have played a role.
The passengers were traveling to Obuasi for the launch of rCOMSDEP, a flagship government initiative approved by Cabinet to reform Ghana’s artisanal and small-scale mining sector. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources under President John Dramani Mahama’s vision, the programme merges the Community Mining Scheme (CMS) and the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP). It aims to establish regulated, community-owned mining cooperatives with professional training, legal concessions, and access to modern gold recovery and water treatment facilities, fostering sustainable jobs and responsible mining practices.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as horrific, with the helicopter engulfed in flames upon impact. GhanaWeb’s Ashanti Regional correspondents, Nana Preprah and Kwame Agyenim Boateng, are en route to gather further details as investigations continue. Posts on X reflect growing public concern, with reports of the crash circulating widely, though details remain limited.
This is a developing story, and authorities are expected to provide updates as more information becomes available.
