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Vice President Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has spoken publicly about the emotional impact of the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of several senior government officials, describing the moment she received the news as one of disbelief and shock.
The Vice President recounted the hours surrounding the tragedy and the difficult task of remaining composed while the nation grappled with the loss.
She said the incident was particularly painful for the families of those who died and stressed the need to remain focused despite the overwhelming emotions.
"These are moments that require of you to focus even more tightly to look at what you have, know you've lost and know how to move forward. It wasn't an easy time for us, least for the family, for a woman who had lost her own child, it was a very, very tough call."
Speaking in an exclusive interview on The KSM Show on Friday, Professor Opoku-Agyemang acknowledged that accidents can occur but said the scale of the tragedy made it especially difficult to process.
"We know accidents can happen, but sometimes when they do happen and on this scale, it takes so much out of you."
The Vice-President revealed that shortly before learning of the crash, she had held a private meeting with President John Dramani Mahama to discuss the proposed Women's Development Bank.
According to her, she had returned home after the meeting and was preparing to leave for her office when she received the devastating news.
"Just that same morning, I had a private meeting with my boss, our President, on another issue. It was on the Women's Development Bank. So we had had the discussion and I had left his home to my own home and then got ready to come to the office. Within an hour, I got my phone buzzing and that was when the news broke."
She described her immediate reaction as one of overwhelming disbelief.
"It's disbelief, it's shock, it's many, many emotions going on at the same time."
Despite the emotional toll, Professor Opoku-Agyemang said the situation demanded calm leadership and an immediate focus on responding to the crisis.
"But it also means that this is the time you have to be focused, this is the time you can't lose it. So quickly, you try to find out what you have to do."
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