In a detailed analysis on X (formerly Twitter), Simons described a “complete breakdown” of the country’s SAR system after the Z-9EH helicopter went down. He said Ghana’s own SAR manual outlines a clear, multi-agency framework — from automatic distress signals to coordinated emergency response — but “when it mattered most, it failed to function.”

According to Simons, a military aircraft carrying VVIPs should have been equipped with an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) to instantly alert the global Cospas-Sarsat satellite network. This would trigger Ghana’s Rescue Coordination Centre in Accra and mobilise agencies like NADMO, the Ghana Maritime Authority, and emergency medical services. But in this case, he says, “the mechanism… simply failed to fully activate,” leaving the first response to untrained locals and delaying professional rescue teams for hours.

He also questioned why backup systems, including Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) and the Air Force’s “flight following and tracking” protocol, were not engaged promptly after radar contact was lost. For Simons, this points to a deeper policy gap: Ghana’s failure to strategically position military assets.

Currently, the Air Force operates from bases in Takoradi, Accra, and Tamale, but none in the middle belt — including the crash zone. The Bui Tactical Command, responsible for that area, has no functional aircraft and even unreliable internet. Simons argued that Kumasi’s existing military facilities could host aircraft, paratroopers, and radar to meet Ghana’s one-hour SAR response standard, yet the military is instead building smaller “mini-bases” that may lack critical capabilities.

He further criticised the absence of public oversight on such strategic decisions, noting that political debates dominate national attention while vital policy accountability “has practically no audience.”

As the board of inquiry begins investigating the crash, Simons insists Ghanaians deserve answers not only about the accident but also about why the emergency response systems — designed to save lives — collapsed entirely when needed most.

source: myjoyonline

The remains of eight victims from the Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter crash on August 6, 2025, near Sikaman in Adansi Akrofuom, Ashanti Region, were flown to Accra via a Casa aircraft and deposited at the 37 Military Hospital for burial preparations, per Ghana News Agency. Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, alongside dignitaries, received the bodies with clergy-led prayers on the night of the crash.

An investigation into the crash’s cause, potentially linked to poor weather, is ongoing, as reported by Adom FM. The Ghana helicopter crash victims tragedy has prompted national mourning. Stay updated on the investigation and tributes for the Ghana helicopter crash victims!

Photos credit: The Presidency

source: myjoyonline