Helicopter Crash Requires Full-Scale Forensic Probe, Not Just DNA Tests – Analyst
Forensic security expert Dr. Lawrence Kofi Acheampong has urged the government to conduct a comprehensive forensic investigation into the recent military helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom District, Ashanti Region, that claimed eight lives, including two government ministers.
His remarks follow the government’s announcement that the victims’ remains have been flown to South Africa for advanced DNA analysis due to the severe condition of the bodies. The 37 Military Hospital in Accra was initially expected to handle the process, but officials said the complexity of the case required more specialized procedures.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Friday, August 8, 2025, Dr. Acheampong stressed that the investigation should go beyond basic victim identification.
“Looking at the people involved and the resources required, this is something at the heart of all Ghanaians. We must conduct a forensic audit of the disaster, which goes far beyond DNA testing,” he said.
The analyst explained that a proper forensic investigation would require the involvement of fire forensic experts, forensic pathologists, chemical pathologists, toxicologists, and forensic engineers to uncover the technical, environmental, and human factors behind the crash.
“When we talk about forensic, we are not only talking about DNA; we need to go deeper. We must determine what went wrong with the flight before the tragedy happened,” he added.
Dr. Acheampong emphasized that even incidents that appear straightforward can reveal complex underlying causes when subjected to detailed forensic scrutiny.
Source: My News Ghana
