The call for government transparency intensified this week as former Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul publicly pressed authorities to release the preliminary investigative findings into the tragic helicopter crash that killed eight people, including two high-profile cabinet ministers, on August 6, 2025.
The fatal accident claimed the lives of the sitting Minister for Defence, Edward Omane Boamah, and the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Murtala Muhammed, along with six other individuals.
A full official probe has been underway since the crash, but nearly three months later, a concise preliminary report remains unpublished, fuelling public speculation.
Speaking to journalists, Mr Nitiwul, a seasoned parliamentarian with a background in defence matters, emphasised that while a comprehensive, final report may require significant time—potentially months—the public is entitled to immediate, factual updates to allay anxiety.
“It is going to take a while before we come to a conclusive thing, but I think that the initial findings could have been made public to the people of Ghana.”
Mr Nitiwul suggested that the government’s delay in providing basic information is unnecessarily increasing public apprehension and eroding confidence in the ongoing probe.
The crash, which saw the loss of high-ranking government officials, has been a dominant national news story since August.
“For the extensive findings, it will take a while before we get to where we have to, but the initial findings because people were very apprehensive…I think that if they bring the initial findings, it will calm nerves.”
The former minister’s comments underline the need for an interim report that could confirm or dismiss early theories—such as mechanical failure, weather conditions, or human error—without pre-empting the exhaustive conclusions of the final accident report.
The government is yet to officially comment on the timeline for the release of the initial findings, despite the growing pressure for disclosure from both the political opposition and the general public.
About the Author
