Helicopter crash site should have been secured immediately – Forensic Sciences Expert 

President of the Ghana Academy of Forensic Sciences, Dr Pet-Paul Wepeba, has stressed that the site of the August 6, 2025, military helicopter crash, which claimed eight lives, should have been sealed off without delay to safeguard critical evidence.

In an interview on TV3’s Keypoint show on Saturday, August 9, 2025, Dr Wepeba explained that preserving the crash scene was essential for aviation forensic experts to accurately determine the cause of the disaster — whether the aircraft disintegrated mid-air, exploded upon impact, or struck another object.

“The position of debris and other materials can give important clues,” he said, expressing concern that some wreckage was taken away by residents before investigators arrived.

He noted that having photographs of debris in their original positions could have enabled investigators to apply scientific methods, including Newton’s laws of motion, to reconstruct the incident. Although some items, such as a wristwatch, have since been returned, Dr Wepeba said the removal of evidence has already complicated the process.

He further raised concerns about how the victims’ remains were handled, warning that without proper protective measures, individuals who came into contact with the bodies risked exposure to aviation fuel, hydraulic fluids, and other hazardous substances. Poor handling, he added, can contaminate evidence and hinder identification, especially when body parts are scattered and later mixed together.

Dr Wepeba disclosed that some samples have been sent to South Africa for advanced DNA testing due to the highly fragmented and, in some cases, mixed nature of the remains. These tests will involve matching DNA profiles with those of relatives to ensure accurate identification of each victim.

While acknowledging that villagers acted out of ignorance, he called for a nationwide public education drive on how to respond to accident and crime scenes.

“If people understand the rules, we can protect evidence, maintain dignity for the dead and support faster investigations,” he said.

He added that every contact leaves a trace, and those traces can make all the difference in uncovering the truth.

The crash, which occurred in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region, claimed the lives of Defence Minister Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology Dr Alhaji Murtala Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, NDC Vice Chairman Dr Samuel Sarpong, former parliamentary candidate Mr Samuel Aboagye, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, pilot Flying Officer Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo.

An inter-denominational state funeral for the eight victims will take place on Friday, August 15, 2025, at the Black Star Square, where the nation will bid its final farewell to the fallen officials.