Member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Communication Team, Dr. Ezekiel Agyekum-Obeng, has defended the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) decision to collaborate with international experts in investigating the August 6 helicopter crash that claimed eight lives, including three service members.
Speaking on Channel One TVs Breakfast Daily on Thursday, August 14, Dr. Agyekum-Obeng stressed that the investigation should not only focus on what happened on the day of the tragedy but also on identifying and addressing potential lapses to prevent future occurrences.
Foreign expertise and whatever needs to be part of the investigation, we need them because it goes beyond finding out what transpired on the day. One of the key issues is to learn from the possible lapses that occasioned the whole tragedy so that we can be better prepared for tomorrow, putting in the best contingency measures to curtail any future mishaps, he said.
The GAF has already confirmed that the helicopters black box has been retrieved and is awaiting examination by experts, including the manufacturers, as part of the ongoing investigation.
The militarys handling of the aftermath has, however, faced public criticism after videos surfaced showing the victims remains being transported in COCOBOD-branded cocoa sacks instead of body bags. Addressing these concerns, the GAF dismissed claims that body bags were not available, explaining that they were present but could not be used due to the condition of the bodies and the circumstances at the time.
According to the military, the recovery operation following the crash was the fastest in Ghanas history of helicopter crash responses.
The August 6 disaster claimed the lives of Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah; Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed; former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye; National Democratic Congress (NDC) Vice Chairman Samuel Sarpong; and Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed. The crew members who perished were Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
Dr. Agyekum-Obeng emphasised that the inclusion of foreign expertise in the investigation will help Ghana adopt best practices and improve preparedness in dealing with similar crises in the future.