Young Ghana Air Force Pilot and KNUST Graduate Among Victims in Military Helicopter Crash
- Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, a KNUST alumnus, tragically died piloting a Z-9 helicopter on national duty
- Anala studied Computer Engineering at KNUST and pursued advanced aviation and safety training to serve Ghana with excellence
- He was enrolled in a UK postgraduate program in Safety and Accident Investigation, reflecting his dedication to aviation safety
Among the ministers and four crew members who lost their lives in the recent military helicopter crash, one pilot, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, an alumnus of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, KNUST, would be missed the most.
Source: UGC
The university mourns the passing of one of its own, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, who was the pilot of Harbin Z‑9, a Chinese‑built military utility helicopter that crash-landed on Wednesday, August 6, 2025.
YEN.com.gh understands that eight people were on board the aircraft. The crash was one of Ghana’s worst air disasters in more than a decade.
Here are the individuals who tragically perished in the helicopter crash in Ghana on 6 August 2025:
- Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence.
- Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation.
- Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Limuna, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator.
- Samuel Sarpong, Vice-Chairman of the National Democratic Congress.
- Samuel Aboagye, former parliamentary candidate.
- Flying Officer Manaen (Manin/Twum) Ampadu, co-pilot.
- Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah, crew member, and,
- Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, pilot.
The cause of the helicopter crash
The Ghanaian military said the helicopter took off in the morning from Accra and was heading northwest into the interior toward the gold-mining area of Obuasi in the Ashanti region when it went off the radar.
Source: Getty Images
The wreckage was later found in the Adansi area of Ashanti.
The cause of the crash was not immediately known, and the military said an investigation was underway
Crashed helicopter pilot, Peter Bafemi Anala
According to KNUST, Peter was a proud alumnus whose life embodied intellect, discipline, and zeal to serve his nation.
Peter Anala gained admission to the university in 2008 to study Computer Engineering.
Four years later, he graduated from the university and decided to serve Ghana through aviation and military leadership.
He strived for excellence in the rigorous military and flight training as a pilot in the Ghana Air Force.
Pilot of Harbin Z‑9's academic achievement
He went back to KNUST in 2021 to pursue a Master of Science in Air Transport and Aviation Management. Through this path, he gained more experience and knowledge in aviation systems, strategic planning, and safety.
Before the August 6, 2025, helicopter incident, Peter was enrolled in a postgraduate program in Safety and Accident Investigation in the UK. This was supposed to be an extension of his lifelong commitment to making aviation safer and more effective.
On August 6, 2025, Squadron Leader Anala tragically lost his life in a helicopter crash while on official duty.
He was piloting a Z-9 aircraft as part of a national mission.
As an alumnus, KNUST honoured his death in a social media post below.
KNUST loses another alumnus in helicopter crash
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Flying Officer Mane-Twum Ampadu, a co-pilot, tragically died in the helicopter crash along with other high-ranking officials.
Ampadu, a graduate of KNUST with a degree in Geography, was known for his intelligence and academic excellence.
Source: YEN.com.gh
