Prof. Kwasi Adjekum, an Aviation Accident Investigator, has underscored the importance of advanced flight technologies following a report highlighting key safety deficiencies in the Harbin Z-9EH helicopter that crashed on August 6, claiming the lives of eight people, including senior government officials.
Speaking in an interview with Bernard Avle on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on Wednesday, November 12, Prof. Adjekum stressed that real-time aircraft data, weather updates, and Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) systems are vital for flight tracking, particularly given the limitations of ground-based radar.
Prof. Adjekum explained, “These technologies are great if you have on an aircraft in real time or data, weather updates as they suggested, automatic dependent surveillance broadcast which shows position, altitude and speed for flight following. Both for the aircraft and the operational control command at the Air Force headquarters, it helps us to know where our aircraft is. Because radar is limited. Radar is ground-based.”
His comments follow the release of a report by the committee that investigated the August 6 helicopter crash. Presenting the findings, Captain (Rtd) Paul Forjoe, a member of the committee, disclosed that the aircraft lacked key safety systems, including the Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning System (HTAWS/EGPWS), advanced terrain mapping navigation, and automatic flight control systems.
The committee, chaired by Acting Minister for Defence Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, submitted its final report to President John Dramani Mahama on Monday, November 10, during a National Security Council meeting at Jubilee House. The investigation was mandated to determine the cause of the crash and propose measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Ghana Air Force-operated helicopter, tail number GHF 631, departed Accra at about 9:12 a.m. en route to Obuasi in the Ashanti Region for an anti-illegal mining operation before losing radar contact and crashing in the Adansi Akrofuom District.
All eight people on board perished, including the Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah; 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 investigation, led by National Security Coordinator Abdul-Osman Razak in collaboration with the Ghana Air Force, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, and international aviation experts, is expected to guide the implementation of enhanced safety protocols and equipment upgrades across Ghana’s military aviation fleet.
