Accra: Lieutenant General William Agyapong, Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces, has explained that cocoa sacks were used to transport the remains of eight helicopter crash victims due to severe heat damage. He said although body bags were available at the crash site, the condition of the remains made them unsuitable for use.
According to Ghana News Agency, Lt. Gen. Agyapong stated, 'We had some body bags at the scene, but the remains were so heated that it was not conducive for the bags to be used,' when executives of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) visited him at Burma Camp in Accra. He further elaborated that the crash occurred in a thick forest and as it was getting late, leaving the remains until the following day was not an option. He emphasized that while some actions may not have aligned with cultural norms, the team did their best with the resources available.
Lt. Gen. Agyapong urged public patience, assuring that investigations are underway and updates would follow. He confirmed that search operations at the crash site continue to recover all remains and aircraft parts, with personnel on the ground expanding the search daily.
Mr. Albert Dwumfour, President of the GJA, urged the military to provide regular updates to prevent misinformation. He emphasized the importance of keeping the public informed, even if there's no new information, to prevent the spread of false information.
Mr. Dwumfour also called on journalists to be careful in their coverage of the incident. He stressed the need for reporters to be cautious and respectful in their reports to avoid causing unnecessary harm during such sensitive times.
