The Bureau of Public Safety (BPS) has urged President John Dramani Mahama to urgently reconstitute the panel investigating the 6 August helicopter crash which claimed the lives of eight people, including two Cabinet Ministers.

In a statement issued on Friday, 8 August, the BPS voiced strong reservations about the President’s decision to place the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) in charge of the probe.

The Bureau warned that such an arrangement risked eroding transparency, independence, and public confidence.

“An institution cannot credibly investigate itself in a matter of this magnitude, particularly where public trust, national security, and the loss of high-ranking public officials are at stake,” the statement emphasised.

It further outlined three principal concerns with a military-led inquiry: a conflict of interest since the GAF operated the aircraft; the likelihood of restricted public disclosure owing to the military’s culture of confidentiality; and the fact that global best practices — including ICAO Annex 13 — require accident investigations to be undertaken by independent authorities.

Drawing parallels with procedures in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, the BPS noted that, internationally, military aircraft accidents with public safety implications are examined by independent bodies, often working alongside the military but not under its control.

To ensure credibility, the Bureau proposed that the Ghanaian panel be reconstituted to feature an independent chairperson with no operational ties to the GAF, civil aviation safety experts (both local and foreign), observers from Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, representatives of independent safety advocacy organisations, and technical advisors from ICAO or other regional accident investigation bodies.

“This diverse, independent structure will not only align with international benchmarks but also preserve the credibility of the inquiry and uphold Ghana’s commitment to transparency and public accountability,” the Bureau concluded.