The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) is waiting on aviation specialists and the Z-9 military helicopter’s manufacturers to decide how to examine the aircraft’s anti-crash recorder after it crashed on August 6.
In his announcement yesterday, Lieutenant General William Agyapong, the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), reaffirmed that the device had already been recovered and was being kept as part of the continuing inquiries into the tragedy.
“We are waiting on the experts and manufacturers, and a decision will be taken as to how it will be included in the investigation,” he said.
Lt. Gen. Agyapong clarified that the recorder’s contents and additional evidence would determine the extent of the crash investigation.
During a courtesy call yesterday at his office in the Burma Camp, the leadership of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) expressed their condolences to the military for the disaster and the deaths, which included three military commanders.
The purpose of the visit was also to examine ways to stop the spread of false information about the helicopter crash.
Concerns regarding recent instances of military personnel attacking journalists were also voiced by the group.
Lt. Gen. Agyapong thanked the GJA for its public appeals for civil coverage of the tragedy and its condolences.
Despite not providing regular reports, he said, the GAF moved quickly following the incident, starting rescue procedures within 30 minutes of losing touch with the aircraft.
Before the troops came, locals had already gathered and were disturbing the scene, he said, describing the accident site as a challenging high-ground environment, 800 feet above sea level in a dense forest.
“Despite the challenges, our team reached the site quickly, secured it, and worked with available materials to recover the remains,” he recounted.
In less than ten hours, the CDS reported, the bodies were taken from the crash site to Kumasi, placed in coffins decorated with the colors of the country, and then transferred to Accra.
“Considering the terrain and the urgency, this was one of the fastest helicopter recovery operations in the country’s history,” he said.
Additionally, he emphasized that the Armed Forces had always looked into reported cases and did not support attacks on journalists.
As a result, he expressed regret to the journalists who had been harassed, saying, “That is not how we train our troops, and any such infractions are dealt with appropriately.”
Albert Dwumfour, the president of the GJA, urged the GAF to give regular updates on the current investigations, emphasizing that a lack of official communication could leave room for rumors and false information.
He claimed that the deaths of eight well-known people, including two ministers in office, were a shock to the government and military as well as to the entire country.
“Ghana has lost leaders, fathers, brothers, mentors, and friends. These were men serving their country with dedication, and their sudden departure has left a void that will not be easily filled,” he said.
While applauding the military’s prompt reaction to the tragedy, Mr. Dwumfour asked the GAF to prioritize openness and prompt information exchange as the probe progressed.
“Even if there is no new development, the public needs to hear that there is nothing new. It is better to say so than to remain silent because in that silence, rumours grow, speculation thrives, and falsehood takes root,” he said.
The GJA President also took use of the event to discuss recent instances of military members attacking journalists, saying that if left unchecked, these incidents could damage the long-standing confidence between the media and the Armed Forces.
“We acknowledge that journalists have a duty to be responsible and factual, but they also have the right to work without fear of intimidation or harm. Protecting this right strengthens democracy,” he emphasised.
In addition to conducting prompt investigations, he asked military commanders to inform the public and victims of the findings.
Source: newsthemegh.com