GAF Helicopter Crash: Retired Ghana Armed Forces Officer Gives Timeline for Opening of Black Box
- A retired army officer has unveiled when the black box of tha crashed Ghana Armed Forces helicopter would be opened
- In a video sighted by YEN.com.gh, Wing Commander Sogbodjor noted that it would take a while for the information in the black box to be decoded
- Netizens who saw the former army officer's remarks were anxious and expressed their views in the comments section
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Patrick Nelson Sogbodjor, a retired Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) officer, has opened up about when the Black Box of the crashed military helicopter will be opened.
The retired military officer made the remarks during an interview on TV3, following the August 6, 2025, GAF helicopter crash.
Source: TikTok
During the interview, he urged Ghanaians to be patient, explaining that it would take some time to open the black box.
He noted that it is not something that can be easily accessed and requires specialised expertise. He added that the manufacturers would either come to Ghana or send a team to decode it locally.
"It is not something automatic that as soon as you get it, you open it, then information comes out. It will take some time. It will either go to the manufacturers, or they may send a team here to open it and decode the information in the black box, so it will take some time," he said.
Eight perish in ghastly GAF helicopter crash
Eight people passed away in the deadly Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) helicopter crash in early August when the aircraft was heading to Obuasi.
Defence Minister Dr Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Murtala Muhammed and three other government officials perished in the crash. Three military officers also died on the aircraft.
Black Box of crashed GAF helicopter found
A day after the tragic incident, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, announced that the black box had been found.
The Minister confirmed the update on social media on Thursday, August 7, 2025. The Minister was among the individuals who rushed to the scene after the unfortunate incident.
Source: Facebook
The black box, a device that will help officials determine the cause of the aviation tragedy, is currently in the possession of the authorities after its successful retrieval from the mountain where the unfortunate crash occurred.
Speaking on the development, Wing Commander Sogbodjor did not give a specific timeline for the opening and decoding of the details in the black box.
"It will take a while. It depends on how fast it is taken back to the manufacturers, or whether the manufacturers are invited here to decode it. It is protected. So it's not something that it can take two days to open," one person said.
Watch the video of the retired officer speaking about when the black box would be opened below:
Netizens concerned over timeline for opening black box
Netizens who saw Wing Commander Sogbodjor's remarks were dissatisfied with the timeline for unlocking and decoding the black box and expressed their concerns in the comments section.
@Right wrong wrong:
"The manufacturers can interfere with the result."
@Kofi wrote:
"We need technical people like you to talk on these issues."
@Makaveli.ovo1 wrote:
"My First time, I saw a TV station do the right thing by bringing a specialist to talk on issues rather than the NDC and NPP wahala. Keep up!!"
@Maame wrote:
"Thanks for ur information."
@GrandMaster wrote:
"This accident just cast light on how weak and technologically bankrupt Ghana is.. Ghana is not fit to be called a sovereign state. We are a joke."
Residents to hold vigil for Omane Boamah
In a related development, YEN.com.gh reported that residents of Kwahu Obomeng, where Dr Omane Boamah hails from, are set to organise a vigil for the late Defence Minister.
A viral TikTok video showed residents erecting a stage as they prepare to honour the memory of their late kinsman.
Source: YEN.com.gh
