President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour has urged journalists and media houses to desist from making insensitive reports about the August 6 helicopter crash.
Speaking during a call on the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General William Agyapong on Wednesday, August 13, Albert Dwumfour noted that media practitioners must at all times adhere to the ethics of the profession.
“Let’s be circumspect and desist from using images and making comments that do not dignify the dead. Comments that offend the sensibilities of loved ones. It is important that as media practitioners once you are in a new media, you have to be guided by the ethics of the profession and let’s devoid from being quick to put the news out there,” he stated.
Mr. Dwumfour stressed that journalists must ensure that content are newsworthy before distribution. He explained that such unprofessional conducts must not be condoned for disclaimers to be issued later as it serves no purpose ethically.
“Make sure that before you put the new out, it is newsworthy. We should not hide behind disclaimers to put images that are insensitive out there. Ethically, you cannot use disclaimer to exonerate yourself,” he said.
On his part, the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General William Agyapong explained the circumstances that necessitated the use of cocoa sacks to carry the remains of the eight men who lost their lives in the August 6 helicopter crash.
According to Lieutenant General Agyapong, although personnel at the scene had body bags—which were the appropriate tools for such an exercise—the extent to which the bodies were burnt made it impossible to use them.
He emphasised that the rescue team did their best with the materials available, which included cocoa sacks, to carry the victims’ remains. Lt. Gen. Agyapong noted that, as night was approaching and the remains could not be left at the scene, the team resorted to the “available and appropriate material” to transport the bodies from the thick forest.
The CDS made this clarification when executives of the Ghana Journalists Association called on him on Wednesday, August 13, 2025.
“Let me just round it up by saying that we had to carry out the recovery efforts with the available and appropriate material we had on the ground. 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.
“It was in the thick forest, and it was getting late. We had the option of leaving the remains there until the following day, but we knew what would have happened to the bodies. So the team, assessing the situation, decided to use the available materials they could lay hands on to start the descent to higher ground,” he stated.
However, Lieutenant General Agyapong maintained that the rescue team and personnel did their best with the resources at their disposal.
“But I must tell you that those who were on the ground assessed the situation, and from where I stand, looking back, I think they did the best with the resources they had at hand,” he remarked.
Helicopter crash: We had body bags but the remains were heated – CDS on use of sacks
