By: Rachel Kakraba
Governance Analyst Prof. Baffuor Agyemang-Dua, has made an urgent appeal for the retooling of the Ghana Armed Forces, to be efficient in its operations following the Sikaman Brofoyedru helicopter crash. He said the incident is a wake-up call to address the aging fleet and logistical constraints within the Armed Forces, particularly the Air Force. He was speaking on GBC’s current Affairs Programme, Talking Point, which discussed the tragic incident which claimed the lives of eight Ghanaians, while on national duty.
Prof. Agyemang-Dua stressed that the retooling effort should not only focus on acquiring a modern aircraft, but also on improving maintenance regimes and investing in advanced training.
“When there’s an emergency it’s easier to put some men on a helicopter to quickly go, and so many examples. Yet the state institution that has that responsibility has not been adequately equipped”
Adding on “before Dr. Omane Boamah passed two months or so ago, he came public saying that the presidential plane is not fit for purpose. That’s why they’ve grounded it. How many helicopters do we have for the Air Force? I wouldn’t say because it’d be a national security issue”
He was hopeful investigations into the incident would identify what caused the accident to prevent future occurrences.
A Professor of Psychology and Founding Director, Centre for Ageing, Prof. Charles Mate-Kole, called for the provision of comprehensive psychological, spiritual, and social support for the families of victims of the crash. He said the sudden and tragic nature of the incident could have a profound emotional impact on surviving relatives, friends, and colleagues, potentially leading to long-term trauma if not addressed promptly.
Member of Parliament for Twifo-Atii Morkwaa, David Theophilus Dominic Vondee, urged everyone to refrain from engaging in blame games or politicizing the accident, and instead focus on fostering collective healing.
“It’s something that took everybody by surprise but let’s stop the blame game and rather focus on healing ourselves.
