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On the morning of Wednesday, August 6, a helicopter carrying four individuals was forced to make an emergency landing at Ajumako Kokoben in the Central Region, narrowly avoiding disaster amid poor weather conditions.
The aircraft, registered as 9G-ADW, was en route to Prestea in the Western Region when the pilot made the decision to divert and land at the Ajumako Kokoben Community School Park around 10:30 a.m. due to deteriorating weather.
Eyewitnesses stated that the pilot cited unsafe flying conditions, emphasising that continuing the journey could have endangered lives.
MUST READ: Inside The Z-9 Helicopter: The Aircraft at the Heart of Ghana’s Heartbreaking Tragedy
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The helicopter remained grounded for over three hours before taking off again once the weather had cleared.
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Tragically, less than an hour after this emergency landing, a Ghana Armed Forces Z-9 military helicopter crashed in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region, killing all eight people on board.
Among the deceased are Minister for Defence Dr Edward Omane Boamah and Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed.
Also confirmed dead are Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Samuel Aboagye, a former Member of Parliament; and Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Military personnel aboard the aircraft included Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Mane-Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah, who also perished in the crash.
Residents of Ajumako Kokoben, initially excited by the unusual sight of a helicopter landing in their community, were soon struck with grief as news of the fatal crash broke.
While no injuries were reported in the Ajumako Kokoben incident, the close timing of the two events has intensified public concern over aviation safety during adverse weather conditions. Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the emergency landing.