Member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) communications team, Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, has advised that authorities must be cautious about how much information is made public in the report on the fatal military helicopter crash for security reasons.
According to him, while transparency is necessary for the families affected, some information should be restricted to protect national security interests.
The report on the helicopter crash, which claimed the lives of eight Ghanaians, is expected to be presented to the National Security Council today, November 10, and made public in a press briefing on November 11.
Speaking on Channel One TV and monitored by NewsDeskGH on November 10, Dr. Palgrave, who is a former Government Spokesperson on Governance and Security, said he expects two types of reports to be presented.
“I want a report that is extremely honest, transparent and a true reflection of what happened, to the family. The family must know what happened. And to the leaders of the country, they must know what happened,” he said.
He added that the second report should address preventive measures and reforms to the public.
“That talks about resolutions and how to prevent a crash of this nature, to the general public,” he said.
Dr. Boakye-Danquah cautioned that public disclosure of sensitive details could pose a risk to national security.
“Because this borders on security, it is important we are mindful of how much we disclose to the general public,” he stated.
“And also because of the sub-region we find ourselves in, which is West Africa and the threats around the sub-region. We need to be mindful because disclosing everything publicly also becomes a threat to us.”
He also called for a review of travel procedures involving top government officials.
“Nowhere in this world should we ever have a Minister for Defence, a Deputy National Security Coordinator, two security couples on one helicopter. It wouldn’t happen,” he said.
“We must relook at our protocols very well as a country.”
He however stressed that nothing should be kept secret from the affected families.
“They must be able to know and bring closure to it,” he said.
Dr. Boakye-Danquah expressed hope that the release of the report will help bring closure to the tragedy, and extended his condolences to the bereaved families and to Ghanaians.
The accident occurred on August 6, 2025, when a Ghana Armed Forces helicopter went down in a forested area at Adansi Akrofuom in the Ashanti Region, killing all eight people on board.
Those who lost their lives were Minister for Defence Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Limuna, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Dr. Samuel Sarpong, former Parliamentary Candidate Samuel Aboagye, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manaen Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
