IMANI Africa’s Honorary Vice President, Bright Simons, has raised serious questions about the Ghana Armed Forces’ preparedness for rescue operations in challenging forest terrain, following last Wednesday’s tragic military helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom district.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on Monday, August 12, Simons emphasised that internationally accepted standards govern such missions, and Ghana must comply.
“For a search and rescue operation, there are set response times and designated first responders,” he said. “There are also rules for securing the crash site, preserving evidence, and preventing unauthorised access—yet we all saw on TV that these standards were not met.”
While authorities have blamed the delay on the difficult forest terrain, Simons rejected that explanation.
“Of course, the terrain was difficult. But part of the Armed Forces’ training is to operate in such conditions. In Nigeria’s Sambisa forest, for example, militaries navigate far more treacherous areas. If our soldiers cannot respond quickly in forest conditions, how would they handle an insurgency?”
He stressed that forest environments are common operational grounds for militaries across West Africa, and Ghana’s forces should be equipped to respond without delay.
Simons’ comments come as President John Mahama has announced a high-level Investigative Board of Inquiry to determine the cause of the crash. In a nationwide address, the President assured Ghanaians of a “full and transparent investigation” led by the Armed Forces.
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Source: Wesleyannews.com
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