Security Analyst, Col. Festus Aboagye (Rtd) has explained that an aircraft or helicopter going off radar does not necessarily mean it has crashed or a danger has occurred.
He noted that when a plane goes off radar, it signifies that it is only flying at an altitude where its radar cannot be detected.
Speaking in an interview on TV3’s NewsCentral, Tuesday, August 12, 2025, Col. Aboagye said usually between 1000 to 3000 feet radars of airplanes and helicopters cannot be detected.
“When a plane is off radar, it does not necessarily mean that the plane has crashed. It simply means that the plane is flying at a height or in a terrain where the radar cannot detect it anywhere between 1000 feet up to 3000 feet or maybe under 1000 feet, radars cannot reach the helicopter. It didn’t mean the plane crashed 14 mins after takeoff, no,” he stated.
He stressed that the procedure required that a distress call be made after a first indication that the helicopter could not be found.
“So, procedurally after 10:02 within thirty minutes which is the first indication that you have not found the aircraft and cannot find it that’s 10:32 then another 30 minutes which is 11:02 if the aircraft has still not been contacted then a distress call is made. So, materially any call or respond from anybody should have begun at 11:02,” he noted.
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) on Wednesday, August 6 announced that Airforce Z9 Helicopter has gone missing. According to GAF, the aircraft was from Accra and heading for Obausi but went off the radar.
“All efforts are being made to establish contact,” a statement said.
It was later confirmed that the said helicopter had crashed leading to the loss of eight lives.
The Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, first announced on Wednesday, August 6, that Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah was among those who died in the crash. Also on board were Minister for Environment Murtala Mohammed, former Ashanti Regional Minister Samuel Sarpong, Muniru Mohammed (Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator), and Samuel Aboagye, a former Member of Parliament and Vice Chairman of the NDC.
The crew members were Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Mane-Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
The crash occurred at Adansi Akrofuom in the Ashanti Region, while the officials were on their way to a national event.
The government announced a three-day national mourning period for the victims. A wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Ceremonial Gardens at the Presidency on Thursday, August 7 and Friday, August 8, in honour of the victims.
Government officials, families of the eight persons who died in the August 6 helicopter crash at Adansi Akrofuom gathered at the forecourt of the State House on Saturday, August 9 for a vigil in honour of the departed souls.
The President further disclosed that an interdenominational state funeral will be held on August 15, 2025.
