Concerns over Ghana’s aviation safety are mounting after a helicopter with registration number 9G-AFW was forced into its second emergency landing in just two weeks. The latest incident occurred on Monday, August 11, at Nkawkaw, Ampekrom, in the Eastern Region, adding to national anxiety following a fatal military helicopter crash on August 6 that killed eight people.
While no injuries were reported in Monday’s event, the repeated mechanical trouble involving the same aircraft has amplified questions about the safety and maintenance of helicopters operating in Ghana. Notably, the same 9G-AFW helicopter was compelled to make an emergency landing in the Central Region on August 6 — the very day a Ghana Armed Forces Z-9 military helicopter crashed in the Ashanti Region.
An eyewitness to the latest incident recalled seeing the aircraft moving erratically before its descent. “It was moving in the sky slowly. It went up, came down a bit and moved backwards,” the witness said. The helicopter eventually touched down within the community, prompting curious residents to rush to the landing site.
The August 6 crash — which claimed the lives of senior government officials, military crew, and political figures — has already triggered a wave of national mourning and intensified calls for stronger oversight of aviation safety. With the 9G-AFW now experiencing two emergency incidents in quick succession, industry observers and members of the public are urging a comprehensive review of safety checks, maintenance procedures, and pilot training protocols.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the latest emergency landing, but pressure is growing for the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and related agencies to investigate and ensure that all aircraft in operation meet rigorous safety standards. The string of incidents has left many Ghanaians uneasy about the reliability of domestic air transport.
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