Helicopter crash: Ghana must rethink emergency response and dignity for the dead

Elvis Darko, Editor of Newscenta newspaper, has urged Ghana to confront critical gaps in its emergency response systems and improve the way victims’ remains are handled after national tragedies.

According to him, the recent military helicopter crash was not only a national heartbreak but also a stark reminder of the country’s limitations in disaster preparedness.

“For me, they have died. We are mourning and everything, but it also exposes us as a nation in several ways”

Speaking on the Breakfast Daily show on Channel One TV on Monday, 11th August, 2025, Mr. Darko lamented that the victims, many of whom were breadwinners, fathers, uncles, and community pillars perished in a way no one should endure.

“Certain deaths are more painful because of the way they happened. Nobody would wish their worst enemy to die in such a manner,” he said.

Mr. Darko argued that if the Ghana National Fire Service which he suggested should be renamed the Emergency and Rescue Service had access to firefighting helicopters, lives or remains might have been better preserved. He noted that reports of the crash emerged less than an hour after takeoff, yet no air rescue assets were available to douse the flames.

He also strongly criticised the handling of the victims’ remains, calling it “inhuman” and “indefensible.” He expressed outrage at the use of jute sacks to transport charred bodies, even if they were still warm from the fire.

“This is crazy. The fact that they are dead does not mean we should denigrate them further. No one should justify this treatment, he said. If this happened in the UK or America, would anyone carry victims in jute sacks and say it’s because their bodies are hot? Let’s be sensible and sensitive to people’s emotions.”

Mr. Darko called for accountability, insisting that officials acknowledge mistakes to ensure corrective measures are taken for the future.

“If we are not ready to accept our mistakes, we cannot correct them. We got it wrong, and we must admit it,” he stated.

The crash in the Adansi-Akrofuom District claimed eight lives, including senior government officials. Mr. Darko said the tragedy should be a turning point for Ghana to invest in modern rescue infrastructure and uphold dignity in the treatment of the dead.