GAF helicopter crash: We cannot fault the Army so much – Dzimega
A member of the NDC Communications team, Theophilus Dzimega, has said the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) cannot be blamed for not responding immediately to the Z9 helicopter crash which occurred on Wednesday, August 6, 2025.
After news of the accident broke, many Ghanaians have expressed concern over how the military did not respond quickly to the crash and delayed in its response to the incident. Others have also expressed displeasure about how civilians were made to troop in to the scene of the accident, allowing evidences to be tampered with.
Speaking in an interview on TV3 New Day’s The Big Issue, Wednesday, August 13, 2025 Mr. Dzimega argued that the Ghana Armed Forces lack the necessary tools to immediately respond to the incident.
He said GAF has not been equipped to the maximum, hence Ghanaians should not expect much from them.
“Currently, we cannot fault the Army so much. To whom much is given, much is expected. What have we given them that we are expecting so much of them? The Ghana Armed Forces has only two helicopters flying, that is sad. And he talks about the one that carries passengers and we cannot even find parts to service that one, it is sad.
“As early as 2023, we also had some three helicopters for the Police but they are just there, nobody is using them because they are not air worthy. So I think that we should pull back,” he stated.
However, the private legal practitioner noted that GAF could have been more effective in its media engagement about the incident rather than waiting to issue a statement long after the incident had occurred.
“I am thinking that by now the Ghana Armed Forces must be proactive in terms of its media engagement instead of just issuing once a while statement. They could have organised press conference and answer a few questions and leave the rest to the report as we are all expecting,” he added.
The Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, first announced on Wednesday, August 6, that Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah was among those who died in the crash. Also on board were Minister for Environment Murtala Mohammed, former Ashanti Regional Minister Samuel Sarpong, Muniru Mohammed (Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator), and Samuel Aboagye, a former Member of Parliament and Vice Chairman of the NDC.
The crew members were Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Mane-Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
The crash occurred at Adansi Akrofuom in the Ashanti Region, while the officials were on their way to a national event.
The government announced a three-day national mourning period for the victims. A wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Ceremonial Gardens at the Presidency on Thursday, August 7 and Friday, August 8, in honour of the victims.
Government officials, families of the eight persons who died in the August 6 helicopter crash at Adansi Akrofuom gathered at the forecourt of the State House on Saturday, August 9 for a vigil in honour of the departed souls.
The President further disclosed that an interdenominational state funeral will be held on August 15, 2025.
Source: 3news