President of the Ghana Academy of Forensics Services (GAFS), Pet-Paul Wepeba, has called for sweeping reforms to Ghana’s forensic science and disaster response systems, warning that glaring gaps have been exposed by the recent Z-9 military helicopter crash in the Ashanti Region.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Friday, 8 August, Wepeba said both the general public and even some institutions mandated to handle such emergencies lack adequate knowledge about proper disaster scene management.
“When it comes to Ghana, it looks as if the knowledge within the general public—and even within certain mandated institutions—is quite lacking,” he noted.
Wepeba stressed that disaster response must not only focus on the immediate aftermath but also on preserving evidence, ensuring justice, and maintaining dignity for victims.
“In situations like this, you need body bags. They present a level of dignity to the victims and also protect the handlers from infections the deceased might carry,” he explained.
While Ghana has skilled forensic professionals, Wepeba admitted that technological limitations hinder quick and reliable analysis of evidence.
“We have the human expertise in Ghana, but the technology isn’t sufficient for quick and reliable analysis. That’s why tissue samples are being sent to South Africa,” he revealed.
The comments come in the wake of the August 6 helicopter crash that killed eight people, including two Cabinet Ministers, sparking nationwide mourning and renewed scrutiny over the country’s emergency preparedness.
