A Volta River Authority (VRA) helicopter, registration 9G-AFW and powered by Jet A-1 fuel, made an emergency landing today, Monday, August 11, 2025, near the Nkawkaw bypass in the Kwahu West Municipality of the Eastern Region.
The landing was necessitated by severely reduced visibility caused by poor weather while the aircraft was en route from Accra to Kumasi.
According to initial reports, the pilot was forced to make an unscheduled landing after encountering worsening conditions mid-flight. Fortunately, both the pilot and crew members emerged unharmed.
This incident comes just days after another helicopter — registration 9G-ADW — was forced to land under similar circumstances at the Presby School Park in Ajumako Kokoben.
That aircraft, carrying four passengers, encountered turbulent winds and near-zero visibility, prompting the pilot to land in an open field within the school compound to ensure safety.
The Ajumako Kokoben incident occurred less than an hour before a far more tragic event — the crash of a Ghana Armed Forces Harbin Z-9 helicopter in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region.
The crash claimed eight lives, including Dr. Edward Omane Boamah — Minister for Defence, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed — Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation; MP for Tamale Central, Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed — Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Dr. Samuel Sarpong — National Vice Chairman, NDC, Samuel Aboagye — former parliamentary candidate, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala — pilot, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu — co-pilot and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah — flight engineer.
According to the Ghana Armed Forces, the Z-9 military helicopter departed Accra at 09:12 GMT bound for Obuasi for an anti-illegal mining operation.
Shortly after departure, the aircraft went “off the radar,” prompting a search-and-rescue mission that later confirmed the deaths of all on board.
News of the military disaster quickly reached Ajumako Kokoben, shifting the community’s initial excitement over the rare helicopter landing into a mood of profound sorrow.
Eyewitnesses reported that in the Ajumako case, the helicopter remained grounded for about an hour as the crew monitored weather conditions before safely continuing the journey.
