Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has cautioned Ghana’s political leaders against turning the procurement of presidential and military aircraft into a partisan issue, stressing that the safety of citizens and operational efficiency of the armed forces must come first.
He made the remarks at the Manhyia Palace on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, when the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, officially informed him of the deaths of eight people in the August 6 military helicopter crash at Sikaman-Brofroyedru in the Adansi Akrofrom District of the Ashanti Region.
The incident, which claimed the lives of senior government officials and military personnel, has revived public debate over the state of Ghana’s air fleet.
“Enough of the politicising of the purchase of presidential planes and helicopters. Human lives are at stake here. We must invest to safeguard their safety and efficiency,” Otumfuo said.
He noted that many of the aircraft currently in use by the Ghana Armed Forces were unfit for sustained operations, and emphasised the urgency of acquiring modern aviation assets.
The King lamented that previous attempts to secure new aircraft had been derailed by partisan wrangling and insisted that the matter should be treated purely as one of national security.
He further extended his condolences to President John Dramani Mahama and the bereaved families, calling for unity in tackling the country’s aviation and security logistics challenges.
Two of the victims, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed and Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed, were buried on August 10 in accordance with Islamic rites.
The remaining six, including former Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, will be laid to rest under full military honours at a state funeral on Friday, August 15, 2025.
