The Z9 military helicopter went down in a dense forest while travelling from the capital, Accra, to the mining town of Obuasi in August. There were no survivors.
After a two-month investigation, officials concluded that the aircraft lost altitude and lift due to a “downdraft,” a downward current of air. The report confirmed that the helicopter was technically airworthy but highlighted deficiencies in the Ghana Air Force fleet, which lacks modern safety and navigational systems.
Captain Paul Forjoe, a retired commercial pilot and aviation engineer who led the investigation, said the 13-year-old helicopter did not have a terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS), which alerts pilots to potential ground collisions.
The investigation was carried out by Ghanaian authorities with assistance from U.S. aviation experts and the helicopter’s Chinese manufacturer.
The ministers and other passengers were on their way to an event in Obuasi focused on combating illegal mining when the crash occurred.
Eyewitnesses reported that the helicopter was flying at an unusually low altitude before it plunged to the ground with a loud bang.
The report recommended modernising the Ghana Air Force fleet to prevent similar tragedies in the future.