Ghana’s air force faces a critical juncture in the wake of a devastating helicopter crash on August 6, 2025, that claimed the lives of eight individuals, including two cabinet ministers and several military personnel. The incident, involving a Harbin Z-9 utility helicopter, has prompted President John Dramani Mahama to advocate for a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s ageing aircraft inventory, highlighting vulnerabilities in equipment reliability and operational safety. As the country mourns and investigates, discussions on modernisation reveal a complex interplay of budgetary limits, international sanctions, and evolving security demands from militant incursions in the north.
The crash occurred in the Ashanti Region’s forested terrain, where the Z-9, en route to an event addressing illegal mining, encountered thick fog and flew at an unusually low altitude before exploding upon impact. Eyewitness accounts described a sudden blast, with the aircraft disintegrating in flames, leaving no survivors. Among the deceased were Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Muniru Mohammed, and Ghana Air Force crew members Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah. The government responded with three days of national mourning, including memorial services and a presidential address emphasising unity beyond political divides. Recovery teams located the black boxes, aiding an ongoing probe into factors like weather warnings from the meteorological agency and potential mechanical issues.
The Z-9, acquired in 2015 through financing from the Ghana National Gas Company and a China Development Bank loan, exemplifies the air force’s reliance on foreign platforms. This twin-engine, multi-role helicopter, derived from the Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin design and produced by Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation, measures 12.1 meters in length with a rotor diameter of 11.93 meters. It achieves a maximum speed of 305 kilometres per hour, cruises at 285 kilometres per hour, and offers a range of 510 kilometres with an endurance of about three hours. Powered by two Turbomeca Arriel turboshaft engines each producing 632 kilowatts, the Z-9 carries up to 10 passengers or 1,900 kilograms of cargo, making it suitable for transport, search and rescue, and light attack when armed with rockets or anti-tank missiles. In Ghana’s service, it has supported patrols over gas pipelines, fisheries enforcement, and medical evacuations, but its age and exposure to tropical conditions raise concerns about airframe fatigue and avionics degradation.
Ghana’s air force fleet, modest in scale with around 39 aircraft on inventory but only about two dozen actively flying, centres on a mix of rotary and fixed-wing assets. Key holdings include six Mi-17/171 transport helicopters for troop movement and logistics, four undelivered Mi-35 Hind gunships intended for close air support, CASA C295 transports for cargo and maritime surveillance, K-8 jet trainers for pilot instruction, and Diamond DA42 light aircraft for reconnaissance. The Mi-17 series, with its 13.5-meter fuselage and capacity for 26 troops or 4,000 kilograms externally slung, features a five-bladed main rotor and tail rotor, powered by Klimov TV3-117VM engines yielding 1,641 kilowatts each for speeds up to 250 kilometres per hour. However, sanctions stemming from Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine have crippled spare parts supplies for these Soviet-era platforms, grounding units and delaying deliveries like the Mi-35, which boasts a 30mm cannon, anti-tank missiles, and armour protection for assault roles.
These disruptions, compounded by financial hurdles, have stalled other acquisitions. A 2020 proposal for six Aero Vodochody L-39NG jet trainers, valued at $132 million including ground simulators and support, gained parliamentary approval in 2021 but faltered due to funding shortages. The L-39NG, with its Williams FJ44-4M turbofan engine delivering 16.87 kilonewtons of thrust, reaches 775 kilometres per hour and incorporates glass cockpits, head-up displays, and compatibility with guided munitions for light combat training. Overhauls of Mi-171 and Mi-8 helicopters by Czech firm Lom Praha in 2019 and 2021 provided temporary relief, extending airframe life through engine refurbishments and avionics upgrades, but these measures fall short of systemic renewal.
Funding poses the primary obstacle, with the Ministry of Defence’s 2025 allocation of approximately $519 million stretched thin across personnel salaries, operations, and capital investments. Currency fluctuations exacerbate costs, as equipment prices in dollars or euros rise against the cedi, while inflation erodes purchasing power. Modern platforms demand not just initial outlays but ongoing expenses for spares, fuel, and training; a single medium helicopter might consume years of budget equivalents in lifecycle support. This reality forces prioritisation of sustainment over ambitious buys, limiting Ghana to second-hand assets or donor aid rather than cutting-edge systems.
Amid these constraints, Ghana has pursued incremental gains through training and domestic industry. In October 2024, eight air force officers completed basic air traffic control courses at South Africa’s Air Traffic Navigation Services, enhancing operational efficiency with skills in radar vectoring and instrument procedures. Domestically, the 2022 inauguration of the Defence Industries Holding Company by then-Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia established 13 joint ventures for producing ammunition, vehicles, electronics, and textiles. These entities, each with independent boards, extend to civil engineering and infrastructure, aiming to build self-reliance and create jobs.
President Mahama, who assumed office on January 7, 2025, after defeating Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia in the 2024 elections, now steers this agenda with a focus on northern security. Originating from Damongo, he campaigns on economic recovery and countering militant spillover from the Sahel, where jihadists from Burkina Faso exploit porous borders and ethnic tensions in towns like Bawku. Clashes between the Kusasi and the Mamprusi groups have shuttered essential services, creating fertile ground for recruitment. Mahama’s strategy emphasises investment in the north to complement military efforts, as air assets prove vital for surveillance and rapid response in vast, rugged areas.
The air force’s limitations hinder international commitments, such as United Nations requests for helicopter support in Mali, due to domestic priorities and fleet strain. Moving forward, Ghana may pivot to alternative suppliers like China, Turkey, or Western partners for affordable options, while bolstering local production. A $1 billion modernisation blueprint floated in July 2025 envisions retooling over three years, but success depends on fiscal discipline and strategic alliances. As investigations conclude and budgets align, the crash serves as a catalyst for change, urging a balanced approach to equip forces against emerging threats while navigating economic realities.
