In a breakthrough development for Ghana’s aviation safety community, the black box of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) Z-9 helicopter that tragically crashed on August 6 has been recovered from the dense forests of the Adansi Akrofuom District.
Confirming the find in a Facebook post on August 7, Ashanti Regional Minister Dr. Frank Amoakohene praised the tireless efforts of a joint military-civilian recovery team whose coordinated search led to the successful retrieval of the vital flight recorder.
“The black box has been recovered,” Dr. Amoakohene posted. “This is a significant milestone in our efforts to understand the tragic loss of lives.”
The mission, led by officers from the Ghana Air Force and supported by local residents and the area’s Assembly Member, navigated rugged terrain and thick bush to access the remote crash site, where the helicopter was found wrecked and smouldering.
The flight recorder — commonly referred to as the black box — is expected to provide critical data on flight parameters and cockpit conversations, which will aid investigators in piecing together the final moments before the chopper went down. The recovery marks a key step in the official probe led by the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIB-Ghana), in partnership with international aviation experts.
The crash claimed the lives of eight prominent public servants and military personnel, including:
Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence
Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology
Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Limuna, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator
Dr. Samuel Sarpong, NDC Vice Chairman
Samuel Aboagye, former parliamentary candidate
Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala
Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu
Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah
The aircraft was reportedly headed toward Obuasi on official duty when it lost contact with air traffic control, triggering a nationwide emergency response.
Authorities say the recovered data will be instrumental in uncovering the technical or operational causes behind the deadly incident — Ghana’s deadliest aviation accident in over a decade.
President John Mahama has since declared three days of national mourning, while preparations are underway for a state funeral to honour the fallen.
