Helicopter crash: Azubila demands immediate military reshuffle

Executive Secretary of ADAM-GH, Azubila Emmanuel Salam, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to reshuffle all service commanders within the Ghana Armed Forces immediately.

He stressed that changing only the top military hierarchy is not enough.

According to Mr. Salam, several service commanders were appointed in November 2024 by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in preparation for the 2024 general elections and remain loyal to the past administration. He warned that keeping them in office could compromise the loyalty of the security services and called on President Mahama to act without delay.

“It is not enough changing the military hierarchy — CDS, COAS, AVM, and NAVY. Please, sir, the service commanders were appointed in November 2024 by President Akufo-Addo towards elections. They are babies of the past government,” Mr. Salam stated. “Such unit commanders are powerful because they have direct contact with soldiers. JDM should reshuffle all the COs now.”

Mr. Salam also addressed claims surrounding the August 6, 2025 helicopter crash in the Ashanti Region, which killed eight senior government officials and military officers. He dismissed suggestions that the crashed Z-9 helicopter was a recent purchase under the Akufo-Addo administration, clarifying that it was acquired by Ghana Gas in 2015 during the Mills/Mahama regime after a procurement process that began in 2012 and was delivered to Ghana in June 2015.

The crash occurred while the delegation was on a national duty mission linked to the launch of the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP). Those who lost their lives were Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Limuna Mohammed Muniru, NDC Vice Chairman Samuel Sarpong, former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Twum Ampadu and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.

Mr. Salam outlined details of Ghana’s aircraft acquisitions to correct misinformation. Aircraft purchased under the Mills/Mahama administration between 2012 and 2015 include two Casa 295 aircraft stationed in Tamale, four Ghana Gas Z-9 helicopters stationed in Takoradi, three Diamond 42 aircraft stationed in Accra, four Mi171 Sh helicopters stationed in Accra and one Falcon 9EXE presidential jet stationed in Accra.

Under former President John Agyekum Kufuor, Ghana bought four Mi17BV helicopters in 2004. Two of these have since crashed, one at Adukurom and another in Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire. Of the remaining two, one is currently out of service while the other remains operational.

Former President Jerry John Rawlings also procured several aircraft, including one Gulf Stream 3, two Augusta Bell 412 helicopters, two Augusta Bell 109 helicopters, 16 Albatross jet fighters and four K-8 fighter jets in 2007 through an exchange involving Ghana’s Gulf Stream 3 and a simulator.

Mr. Salam further recalled incidents involving Ghana’s K-8 fighter jets, including a 2015 case where one jet lost its fuel tank mid-air over Adenta and another where two K-8 jets collided on the ground due to brake failure before takeoff. Both damaged jets were later repaired.

He warned political propagandists against misleading the public about Ghana’s aircraft fleet and urged Ghanaians to verify information before circulating it.

“We are hereby cautioning those trying to throw dust into the eyes of the general public to desist from it,” Mr. Salam warned.