Samples of the charred remains recovered from the scene of the tragic military helicopter crash at Sikaman in the Adansi Akrofuom area of the Ashanti Region have been flown to South Africa for further forensic examination and identification.
A brief but solemn ceremony was held at the Golden Jubilee Terminal in Accra on Thursday, August 7, 2025, before the remains were airlifted aboard Ibrahim Mahama’s private jet, Dzata.
The transfer was to facilitate DNA testing of the remains, with results expected within 6 to 12 hours. The remains were accompanied by Chief Superintendent Edward Abban, head of the Police DNA Forensic Science Laboratory at the CID Headquarters in Accra.
The remains are those of the eight individuals, comprising three military crew members and five passengers, who perished in the military helicopter crash.
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) confirmed that a Z-9 military helicopter had taken off from Accra at 9:12 a.m. en route to the Central Command in Obuasi, but lost radar contact shortly after departure.
The aircraft was later discovered destroyed in a dense forest, with no survivors.
Among the deceased are the Minister of Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, and the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology and Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed and six others.
JKB/MA