Army Explains Why Helicopter Crash Fatalities Were Carried in Sacks: “The Remains Were so Heated”
- The Ghana Armed Forces has explained why the remains of the August 6 army helicopter victims were transported in cocoa sacks
- The Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General William Agyapong, gave the reasons to a Ghana Journalists Association delegation
- A Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter crashed in the Sikaman Forest, killing all eight people onboard, including the Defence Minister
The Ghana Armed Forces refuted reports that there were no body bags taken to the site of the August 6 helicopter crash, prompting the use of cocoa sacks to transport remains.
According to the military, body bags were available at the scene, but could not be used because of how hot the remains were.
Source: Facebook
On August 13, the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General William Agyapong, explained to a visiting delegation from the Ghana Journalists Association the situation on the ground.
“We had some body bags at the scene, but the remains were so heated and not conducive for the bags to be used.
“The team up there assessing the situation decided to use the available materials they could lay their hands on to ascend the higher ground. At the foot of the hill, they met the medical team."
On the day of the crash, the Assemblyman for Sikaman Brofoyedu gave a similar explanation.
He said the remains of the deceased remained at a very high temperature from the fire caused by the crash, rendering the plastic bags carried by relief agencies or law enforcement unsuitable.
About the Ghana army helicopter crash
The August 6 helicopter crash killed eight people, including two ministers.
The officials were flying from Accra to Obuasi for the launch of the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme when the aircraft went down in a forested area.
Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed were killed when the helicopter they were travelling in crashed in the Adansi Akrofuom district.
Source: Facebook
The other civilians who died in the crash were former Obuasi East parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye, Deputy National Security Coordinator Limuna Muniru and National Democratic Congress (NDC) Vice Chairman Dr Samuel Sarpong, while the army personnel who died in the crash were Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala and Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu.
A state funeral will be held in their honor on August 15.
Sam George weeps at wreath-laying ceremony
YEN.com.gh also reported that Communications Minister Sam George wept during the wreath-laying event for the eight helicopter crash victims.
The Ningo Prampram MP was openly overcome with sorrow while visiting the ceremonial grounds of the Jubilee House on Friday, August 8.
George stated that he was a close confidante and mentee of late Defence Minister, Dr Omane Boamah, and had been deeply affected by his death.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
