Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has expressed deep grief and outrage over the aftermath of the recent Z9 military helicopter crash, which claimed the lives of eight people, including two cabinet ministers.
In a personal reflection, he recounted the moment he first received news of the tragedy and raised sharp concerns about the reported handling of the victims’ remains. Awuni revealed that the moment the news reached him felt devastating and surreal.
“I was facilitating a media training when news of the tragedy hit me, like a poisoned arrow. When I closed and sat in my car, I was too numb to move.
“I spent an hour in the car, falling asleep briefly at one point, and waking up to find myself at the same spot with the same cruel news of the fatal plane crash”
Manasseh Azure Awuni, Investigative Journalist
Since that moment, the journalist noted that he has deliberately avoided engaging with media coverage of the incident, steering clear of television, social media, and images or videos related to the crash. This was to prevent the gory scenes and insensitive coverage of the matter from further impacting him in his moment of extreme grief.
He suggested that perhaps smartphone manufacturers should be required by the government to produce “common-sense manuals and tutorial guides” on how to handle such moments of national grief by device users. He cited poor public discourse and visual coverage of the tragedy, and its distressing impact on those really affected.
“I feel a sting of anger at the borderlines of my sorrow,” Awuni said, underscoring his anger at the situation, especially as he mourned three friends who perished in the crash. However, he revealed that despite wanting to write a befitting tribute to his friends and people lost in the crash, the words to fully express his thoughts have “deserted” him.
Call For Accountability
While he acknowledged that the ongoing investigations might not guarantee closure for the bereaved and the nation at large, he insisted that one troubling allegation must be addressed – the claim that the victims’ bodies were transported in cocoa sacks by civilians.
“One angle that should be included in the investigation is whose negligence allowed the bodies to be carried in cocoa sacks by ordinary folks. If those reports are, indeed, true. I still struggle to believe it happened”
Manasseh Azure Awuni, Investigative Journalist
He stressed that if these reports are confirmed, the investigation must determine who allowed such a situation to occur. He questioned whether the remains were moved before government ministers, security agencies, and top officials arrived at the crash scene or if these authorities were present when it happened.
In either scenario, he argued, accountability was necessary. In his view, such acts were not only a sign of disrespect to the deceased but also a stain on the dignity of the nation. Awuni added that these lapses in judgment from leaders could have “catastrophic consequences,” comparable to causing a plane to crash or a ship to sink.
The Z9 military helicopter, which was on an official mission, went down in the middle of this week in the Western Region. Government sources confirmed that all eight people on board died instantly.
Among the victims were two serving cabinet ministers, high-ranking military officers, and other officials. The crash has triggered a nationwide period of mourning, with President John Dramani Mahama leading tributes to the fallen.
The Office of the Chief of Staff has assured the public that a comprehensive investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash and examine all actions taken during the recovery process.
According to the statement, the interagency team in charge of the probe will assess not only technical factors but also procedural lapses in the response effort.
In closing his reflection, Awuni prayed for healing for the bereaved, particularly the immediate families of those who lost their lives. “May the good Lord mend all broken hearts,” he wrote, expressing hope that the tragedy would prompt not only mourning but also reform in how the country responds to such disasters.
READ MORE: Cecilia Marfo Calls For National Prayer
