Helicopter carrying Mahama and wife in emergency landing in Kumasi
A helicopter carrying the President, John Mahama, and his wife, Lordina, made an emergency at Apatrapa in Kumasi Friday, Graphic Online can report.
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The first family was travelling from Sunyani to the Kumasi Airport, where the presidential jet was waiting to whisk them to Accra.
The helicopter made an emergency landing about 100 metres away from the Apatrapa Government Hospital in Kumasi.
Confirming the incident Saturday, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) said the emergency landing was precautionary due to bad weather.
“Nothing happened to the helicopter and there was no injury. They were coming from Sunyani and made a precautionary landing due to bad weather. The First Family was later moved to Kumasi and brought back to Accra,” spokesperson of GAF, Lt. Col. Aggrey Quarshie, was quoted as having said by Starrfmonline.com.
Lt. Col. Aggrey told Accra-based Citi FM that, “There was a storm approaching, so in other safeguard the first family the pilot decided to embark on a precautionary landing”, adding that the president and his wife were "immediately transported by road to Kumasi”.
GraphicOnline correspondent, Donald Ato Dapatem, who reported an unplanned helicopter landing on Friday, said armed security men including police and military cordoned off the area where the helicopter landed. At the time, he did not know that the aircraft was carrying Mr Mahama and his wife.
Quoting eye witnesses, Dapatem said the helicopter nearly crashed into the hospital and some residential buildings but managed to land on the field at about 5.30pm.
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He said many curious residents of area, which is referred to as Apatrapa Airport, defied heavy rains to try and catch a glimpse of the aircraft.
It had been raining in kumasi since 5pm. The rain was preceded by very strong winds, he noted.
The presidency is yet to comment on the development.