The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, has confirmed the recovery of the black box from the Ghana Armed Forces Z-9 helicopter that crashed in the Adansi Akrofuom District on Wednesday, August 6, claiming the lives of several high-ranking government and military officials.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, August 7, Dr. Amoakohene announced the progress, indicating that a team of investigators had successfully located the black box at the crash site, a vital step toward unravelling the cause of the tragic incident.
The team, made up of officers from the Ghana Air Force and other military units, embarked on the mission earlier Thursday morning. They were joined by residents and the Assembly Member for the area, who guided them through the forested terrain to the remote crash location.
The crash, described as one of the most devastating air tragedies in recent Ghanaian history, resulted in the death of the Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, and the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed.
Other persons who also perished in the crash included Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Samuel Aboagye, a former Parliamentary Candidate; and Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the NDC. The three crew members, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah, also died.
Initial reports indicate the helicopter was en route to Obuasi when it went off radar, prompting a swift response and search mission by military and local authorities.
The recovery of the black box is expected to provide crucial data to investigators, who are working against the clock to piece together the chain of events leading to the fatal crash.
Meanwhile, Samples of the remains of the eight individuals who perished have been flown to South Africa for DNA analysis to aid in their identification.
