Obuasi Crash: Presidential Staffer Confirms President Mahama Was Scheduled to Be on Z-9 Helicopter
- President John Dramani Mahama was initially scheduled to be on board the Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter that crashed in the Ashanti Region
- Nana Yaa Jantuah, a senior presidential staffer, disclosed this while contributing to discussions on TV3's New Day
- She said the president opted to attend a church programme in Gomoa Fetteh instead, avoiding joining the entourage to the official event
Nana Yaa Jantuah, a senior presidential staffer, has disclosed that President John Dramani Mahama was initially scheduled to be on board the Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter that crashed in Adansi Akrofuon near Obuasi in the Ashanti Region.
The devastating accident, which occurred on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, claimed the lives of five government officials, including two Ministers of State, and three military personnel.
Source: Facebook
Speaking on TV3's New Day show on Thursday, August 7, 2025, the senior presidential staffer stated that President Mahama was scheduled to attend the launch of the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skill Development (rCOMSDEP) programme in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, alongside the now deceased government officials.
However, according to Nana Yaa Jantuah, the president later changed his plans to attend a church programme at Gomoa Fetteh in the Central Region of Ghana.
"The president was supposed to go to the programme with them (victims of the helicopter crash), but he changed the plans because of the Gomoa Fetteh prayer," she disclosed.
Watch Nana Yaa Jantuah's video below:
How the government officials died
The helicopter was en route to Obuasi when contact was lost shortly after departing from Accra at 9:12 a.m.
It was later confirmed that the helicopter had crashed, resulting in the tragic deaths of eight individuals.
This sad development was confirmed in an emergency press conference by Chief of Staff Julius Debrah at the Jubilee House, the seat of government in Ghana.
Among the deceased were Ghana's Defence Minister, Dr Edward Omane Boamah; the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Ibrahim Muntala Mohammed; and several others.
Deputy National Security Coordinator Limuna Muniru, former Ashanti Regional Minister Dr Samuel Sarpong, and former NDC Parliamentary candidate for Obuasi East, Samuel Aboagye, also lost their lives in the crash.
The crew members who perished in the incident included Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
The deceased government officials were travelling to the Ashanti Region to join the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, and the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, to launch the rCOMSDEP initiative.
The rCOMSDEP programme, which was only approved by cabinet on Monday, August 4, 2025, is in line with the vision of President John Mahama to create sustainable jobs through responsible cooperative mining.
Source: Facebook
President Mahama declares 3 days of national mourning
Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh reported earlier that three days of national mourning were declared by President Mahama following the military helicopter crash that killed eight people.
All official activities and engagements of the president for the remainder of the week were suspended. National flags were flown at half-mast until further notice following the crash, which occurred in the Adansi Akrofuom district.
Proofreading by Omoleye Omoruyi, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
