Former Chairman of the National Peace Council and former Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Ghana, Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante, has spoken critically about the emergency response following the tragic crash of the Ghana Air Force helicopter, which claimed the lives of eight people, including two ministers and senior military officers.
In an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem, he stressed the need for Ghana to learn from such disasters.
“Accidents happen everywhere, even in the most advanced countries. But the real question is: how do we respond when they occur?” he asked.
He disclosed the importance of proper emergency procedures, noting, “We have technology like the black box that records everything during a flight. This is crucial for understanding what went wrong.”
However, Prof. Asante expressed disappointment at the apparent lack of an effective emergency response at the crash site.
“When the accident happened at Adansi, I saw no security personnel securing the scene to aid investigations. There were no fire service vehicles or ambulances on site,” he said.
He warned, “If we cannot manage these critical aspects after such a serious accident, especially one involving public officials, it means we have not learned from previous disasters.”
While expressing sympathy for the families affected, Prof. Asante urged that Ghana must prioritize prevention.
“Accidents cannot be completely stopped, but we can take strong measures to prevent them from turning deadly. It is time we stop only sympathizing and start acting.”
The August 6 crash claimed the lives of:
- Edward Omane Boamah, Minister of Defence
- Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology
- Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator
- Samuel Aboagye, former parliamentary candidate
- Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)
- Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, military officer
- Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, military officer
- Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah, military officer
Source: Dorcas Abedu-Kennedy
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