A helicopter with registration number 9G-ADW made an emergency landing at the Ajumako Kokoben Community School park in the Central Region on the morning of Wednesday, August 6, 2025, narrowly avoiding a potential disaster.
The aircraft, carrying four individuals, was en route to Prestea in the Western Region when it was forced to land at approximately 10:30 a.m.
Eyewitnesses at the scene reported that the pilot, after circling the area briefly, explained that deteriorating weather conditions made it unsafe to continue the journey.
“The weather was bad, and the pilot told us it was risky to continue,” one onlooker said.
The helicopter remained grounded for more than three hours before conditions improved enough to allow it to resume its journey.
Close call followed by national tragedy
The emergency landing occurred less than an hour before a much more tragic aviation incident involving a Ghana Armed Forces Harbin Z-9 helicopter in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region.
That crash claimed the lives of all eight onboard, including Ghana’s Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, and Minister for Environment, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed.
News of the military crash quickly reached Ajumako Kokoben, turning the initial excitement over a rare helicopter landing into a mood of deep sorrow.
“At first we were happy to see a helicopter here. Then we heard about the crash and our hearts sank,” a local resident recounted.
Aviation incidents raise safety concerns
While the emergency landing at Ajumako Kokoben ended without injury or damage, the near miss—coming so close in time to a fatal military crash—has heightened public concern about aviation safety, particularly in relation to helicopter operations during adverse weather.
Authorities have yet to issue a formal statement on the emergency landing, but aviation analysts are expected to examine both incidents closely for any broader implications regarding flight safety and emergency preparedness.
