Deputy Minister for Defence, Ernest Brogya Genfi, has stated that the microlight aircraft that crashed at Tema Community 1 on Monday, March 16, was not owned or operated by the Ghana Armed Forces.
In a statement shared on Facebook, the Deputy Minister explained that authorities had received reports of a fatal crash involving a privately owned microlight aircraft in the area.
He clarified that although the incident had drawn public attention, the aircraft involved had no connection with the Ghana Armed Forces.
Brogya Genfi also expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the crash, offering prayers for the deceased and sympathies to their relatives.
Officials have confirmed that two people died in the incident.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) disclosed that the aircraft involved was a microlight bearing registration number 9G-ADV.
According to the authority, the aircraft had departed from Ho and was en route to Accra. It was expected to arrive at about 1520 Z, with the last radio communication with the aircraft recorded at 1418 Z.
Personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service responded to the scene after the aircraft went down near a daycare facility in Tema Community One.
The Tema Regional Public Relations Officer of the service, Ebenezer Yenzu, said firefighters initially believed they were responding to a building fire.
However, upon arrival, they discovered that the blaze was coming from a crashed aircraft rather than a structure.
Yenzu explained that preliminary information from the scene suggested the aircraft had been circling while attempting to land before eventually coming down close to a daycare centre operated by the Tema Metropolitan Assembly.
He noted that none of the children or teachers at the facility were injured in the incident.
According to him, the aircraft landed close to the school premises, but all pupils and staff members were safe.
He added that the only fatalities recorded were the two occupants of the aircraft.
Authorities have since begun investigations to establish the circumstances that led to the crash.
