A retired Ghana Air Force Officer, Wing Commander Patrick Nelson Sogbodjor, has expressed reservations about making the aircraft investigations committee’s report public.
He says aircraft crash investigation reports are typically not intended for public disclosure, but for the government and the leadership in the Defence fraternity.
He explains that upon completion of such investigations, the reports are submitted to the operator, and governments often establish committees of inquiry to learn from the accident’s causes, to guide them on future safety measures.
According to Sogbodjor, calls for public disclosure of such reports aren’t typical internationally, emphasising that the timeless attached to the report is not global practice.
His comments come on the back of a letter from Alhaji Habib Iddrisu, First Deputy Minority Whip in Parliament, to President John Dramani Mahama, requesting the public release of the report on the helicopter crash that claimed eight lives, including two Ministers.
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Speaking on Ghana Tonight on TV3 Monday, October 27, 2025, Wing Commander (Rtd.) Sogbodjor said, “it’s virtually impossible to put timelines into aircraft investigations.”
He admonished the public to allow “the search and rescue team and the board come out with findings.”
The retired officer said “there are a lot of things to look at before they deduce what happened, and if they haven’t concluded, they can’t just come out and say they’ve done A, B, or C.”
He cited a similar incident in the United States where the investigation team’s report was not publicly disclosed, emphasising that such information is typically classified.
“Quite recently, a US Air Force helicopter crashed into a jet airliner in New York and 67 people died. It took about three months for the board of inquiry to finish their work and then sent it to the operator. Because the information is not public notice. It’s classified information and it will go to the operator and most of the time, board of inquiries are made to learn from what happened and the government or defence will decide what to tell the public. It is not public notice,” he stressed.
Regarding the Defence Ministry’s statement that the report would be ready in three months, the retired Air Force Officer said the Defence Minister isn’t an expert in aircraft investigations. “He just announced that it’s been established. But the technocrats will go in and find out exactly what happened.”
Habib Iddrisu, also the Member of Parliament for Tolon, has formally written to President Mahama requesting information on the findings of the committee established to investigate the crash of the Z9 helicopter crash.
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In a letter dated Monday, October 27, 2025, addressed to the President, Mr Iddrisu invoked Article 21(1)(f) of the 1992 Constitution and Section 18 of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989) to request a copy of the investigative report or an update on the matter.
“The nation mourned together following this profound loss, recalling that on August 25, 2025, a committee of inquiry was set up to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash, with a promise that the findings would be shared within thirty days.
“In light of the time that has passed and the significant public interest in this matter, I respectfully request a copy of the investigative report or update,” he wrote.
He said that the public deserves to know what led to the deaths of “such prominent figures and dedicated public servants,” urging the Presidency to release the full and final report from the investigative committee or provide an interim update if the process is still ongoing.
“If the complete report is not yet available, I would appreciate it if you could release a partial or interim report. This would not only keep the public informed but also reflect the government’s commitment to transparency during this difficult time,” he added.
The August 6, 2025 incident that occurred near Adansi Akrofuom in the Ashanti region led to the deaths of several senior government officials and military officers, including:
Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah – Minister of Defence
Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed – Minister of Environment
Alhaji Muniru Mohammed – Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator
Dr. Samuel Sarpong – Vice Chairman, NDC
Samuel Aboagye – Former Parliamentary Candidate
Squadron Leader Peter Bafimi Anala, Sergeant Ernest Addo, all military officers, and Flying Officer Twum Ampadu.
