GAF Helicopter crash response is poor: Suhuyini criticises

The sad August 6th Helicopter crash response from GAF has been described as is poor by Hamza Sayibu Suhuyini, a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Communications team.

He has publicly criticised the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) for what he described as a “poor response” following the tragic helicopter crash on August 6, 2025.

The crash claimed the lives of eight individuals, including Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah and Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed.

Speaking on TV3 New Day’s The Big Issue on Tuesday, August 12, Suhuyini expressed deep disappointment over the military’s handling of the incident, questioning why the Ghana Armed Forces did not respond immediately while civilians were seen at the crash site.

“I am about to end my discussion on this platform again, calling on the poor response from the Ghana Army, especially as far as this unfortunate incident is concerned. I am in pain and have struggled for days, and the pain is yet to leave my chest. For some time, I was thinking that the paucity that has engulfed our state institutions, the military was an exception.

But for something of this nature to have happened, on board was the Minister for Defence, and even at the crash site for hours after the Ghana Military issued a statement about a missing helicopter and the news eventually came about the discovery of same. It had to take civilians of the Republic of Ghana after an hour or two to be seen actively on the side of the crash trying to salvage the situation.

These are the people who are supposed to defend the country in case of an emergency and they could not mobilise to get to the site of the mortal remains of their Defence Minister in a matter of an hour?”

The legal practitioner called on President John Dramani Mahama to undertake a “serious repositioning” of the Ghana Armed Forces, describing their response as “inefficiency.”

“They could not secure the perimeters of the crash site for their own investigations? They could not dignify these gallant servers by even taking charge of their remains and carrying it as our military?

What were the top rank of the Ghana Military engaging? In all honesty, I expect a serious repositioning as far as the Ghana Military is concerned because what I witnessed I never thought in my lifetime I would have witnessed such inefficiency. It pains me to say this because many of my friends are in there,” he added.

Suhuyini further lamented the lack of protocol at the crash site, stating:

“This was one of the state institutions I was holding on to with some hope until this happened. Were you not shocked? No red tape to even protect the scene of the accident.”

He warned that the military’s handling of the crash sends a damaging signal internationally.

“And you all want to brush this under the radar and pretend as if everything was alright. This is not right because it is not just about the death of these people, it also sends a signal internationally about the reputation of the Ghana Army and we should be worried that conduct has exposed this country badly.”

The Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, announced on August 6 that the Defence Minister was among the victims, alongside Minister for Environment Murtala Mohammed, former Ashanti Regional Minister Samuel Sarpong, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Muniru Mohammed, and former MP and NDC Vice Chairman Samuel Aboagye. The crew members who died 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 officials were traveling to a national event.

READ: Bright Simons critiques Ghana Armed Forces’ search, rescue readiness

Following the tragedy, the government declared a three-day national mourning period. Wreath-laying ceremonies were held at the Ceremonial Gardens of the Presidency on August 7 and 8. Government officials and families of the deceased held a vigil at the forecourt of the State House on August 9. President Mahama has scheduled an interdenominational state funeral for August 15, 2025.