The Deputy Minister of Defence, Ernest Brogya Genfi, has assured Ghanaians that the investigations into the military helicopter crash that claimed the lives of eight Ghanaians will be transparent.
The probe, which is being carried out by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) in collaboration with international partners, will ensure that the findings are relayed to the public to reveal the cause of the tragic incident.
Speaking during a call on him by a delegation from the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, the Deputy Minister indicated that the probe has already commenced, and so far, the response has been positive.
“We also want to assure you that the GAF have already began investigations into the incident,” he stated.
“We have made request for international collaboration and we have received positive response in that regard and so we want to assure you, our chiefs, that nothing will be covered.”
“It will be transparent and the public will know exactly what happened and caused this tragic accident,” Mr. Genfi emphasised.
He also disclosed that the Minister would have used the opportunity of the visit to Obuasi to address the outcome of the probe into the shooting incident that occurred between the youth and the military over illegal mining that claimed nine lives.
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“We also know that prior to the Minister even taking charge of the Ministry, there was an incident that happened immediately after the election in Obuasi – the shooting incident. So, the Minister was to use that platform to address the outcome of that exercise. So he had to be there. Unfortunately, we all heard about the tragic incident. The Minister never came back,” he disclosed.
He, however, added his voice to the GAF’s caution to the public, particularly the media, to desist from misinforming the public with their publications and comments, stressing that the Ministry and GAF will be diligent in providing the public with the facts of the investigation.
“We also want to caution the media and some analysts who have been churning out misinformation and untruth about this whole incident. Ghanaians should trust that the ministry and GAF are going to be diligent in the investigations and transparent about it and whatever was the cause, will be known to the people of Ghana and we’ll take some lesson out of that,” he reiterated.
Mr. Genfi expressed appreciation to the delegation for the visit to the Ministry.
“Let me thank you so much for showing that sympathy to the Republic and in particular the Ministry. We appreciate it. This is the first high-level delegation of chiefs that have visited the Ministry and we really appreciate it,” he expressed.
The crash claimed the lives of Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah; Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed; Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Muniru Mohammed; former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye; NDC Vice Chairman Samuel Sarpong; Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala; Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu; and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
The group was travelling to Obuasi in the Ashanti Region to attend an event aimed at combating illegal mining, known as galamsey.
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