The committee responsible for investigating the military helicopter crash on August 6 has advised the government to upgrade the Ghana Air Force fleet to enhance flight safety and operational effectiveness.
While presenting the committee’s findings on Tuesday, November 11, committee head Captain (Rtd) Paul Forjoe stated that obtaining modern aircraft and support systems is essential to avert similar disasters going forward
The Committee suggested that the government should “update the Ghana Air Force’s fleet” by acquiring aircraft fitted with Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (TAWS/EGPWS), state-of-the-art navigation systems, and cockpit voice and flight data recorders (CVR/FDR) that have audiovisual functions.
Captain Forjoe similarly suggested acquiring flight simulators for recurrent training of pilots, hiring certified aviation weather service providers, enhancing navigational aids during flights, and putting resources into ground support and monitoring systems for flight data
The suggestions come after the August 6 incident involving a Harbin Z-9EH helicopter (tail number GHF 631) that was operated by the Ghana Air Force. The plane left Accra around 9:12 a.m. en route to Obuasi in the Ashanti Region for an anti-illegal mining operation but lost radar contact and crashed in the Adansi Akrofuom District.
All eight individuals on the flight perished in the accident, which included ex-Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah; ex-Minister for Environment, Science and Technology Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed; Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Muniru Mohammed Limuna; NDC Vice-Chair Samuel Sarpong; former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye; Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala; Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu; and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah
The inquiry, led by National Security Coordinator Abdul-Osman Razak, was carried out alongside the Ghana Air Force, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), and global aviation specialists.
The committee’s concluding report is anticipated to steer governmental initiatives aimed at enhancing safety measures and updating equipment throughout the nation’s military aviation activities
