Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations, Stan Dogbe, has urged the media to exercise restraint and adhere to set guidelines in their coverage of the state funeral for the victims of the recent military helicopter crash.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Black Star Square ahead of Friday’s solemn event, Mr. Dogbe stressed the importance of decorum, respect, and coordination to preserve the dignity of the occasion.
He explained that the media’s access and coverage of the event would follow a centralized live feed arrangement, as has been done for previous state events of similar significance.
“The live feed for this program is being centralized as we’ve done in the past. You can get the live feed from the van, and you can go live from there, or you can also choose to just pick the clean feed from the outdoor broadcast channel on the DTH decoder and reach out to your viewers at home or in their offices.”
Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations, Stan Dogbe
Mr. Dogbe underscored that media conduct on the day must reflect the solemn nature of the funeral, which is being held in honour of the eight officers who lost their lives in the tragic military helicopter crash.
“We expect that we would all comport ourselves, and we’ll respect the guidelines. We do not want to see tomorrow anybody holding a phone or a monopod and struggling to chase people, chase mourners as they are coming in to sit down”.
Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations, Stan Dogbe
Accredited journalists with clearance to operate within the inner perimeter of the event grounds were urged to arrive early to carry out all necessary technical checks before the service commences at 7:30 a.m.
“If you are given accreditation to be in the inner perimeter, do well to come in early, check your audio, ensure that you have the required audio feed that you need and then also check on the TV feed and be sure that you are okay before the service starts”.
Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations, Stan Dogbe
Details of the Program
Providing details of the funeral programme, Mr. Dogbe noted that the service would be predominantly a military one, conducted by the Ghana Armed Forces in collaboration with religious leaders from different faiths.
He outlined that the funeral would be held in three main parts. The first would be the pre-burial service, which will feature the reading of some tributes and Qur’an recitations.
The pre-burial proceedings, scheduled from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., will also accommodate institutional tributes from organisations with which the departed served or were associated.
This will be followed by the main funeral and burial service, which is set to begin immediately after the arrival of key dignitaries. The Vice President is expected to arrive at 8:50 a.m., followed closely by the President at 9:00 a.m., marking the formal start of the state service.
The service, expected to last about three hours, will include readings of the biographies of the eight fallen officers, alongside tributes from widows, children, and senior government officials. “All institutional tributes… will be read during the pre-burial period before 9:00 a.m.,” Mr. Dogbe explained.
Once the formal service concludes, the bodies of the six victims who are yet to be laid to rest will be transported to the military cemetery at Tse Addo for burial. The Ghana Armed Forces, together with the respective churches of the six departed, will oversee the final rites at the cemetery.
Mr. Dogbe reiterated that the solemnity of the occasion required the cooperation of all stakeholders, especially the media, to maintain the decorum befitting a state funeral.
He urged that all accredited media personnel adhere to the arrangements put in place, avoid unnecessary movements that could disrupt the proceedings, and respect the grieving families.
“This is a day of mourning for the entire nation. We must ensure that our conduct, particularly in how we cover and broadcast the event, reflects the gravity of the loss and the respect due to our departed compatriots.”
Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations, Stan Dogbe
The state funeral, to be held at Independence Square, will bring together high-ranking government officials, military personnel, religious leaders, and members of the public in a unified show of respect for the victims.
It is expected to be a poignant occasion marked by inter-denominational and inter-faith observances, underscoring the national significance of the tragedy.
The Ghana Police Service has already announced temporary road closures and traffic diversions in parts of Accra to facilitate the smooth conduct of the funeral, with the public urged to comply with the arrangements.
Both the police and the event organisers have emphasised the importance of orderliness, patience, and cooperation in ensuring the safety and solemnity of the occasion.
As the nation prepares to bid farewell to the fallen officers, the message from the presidency is clear: the day should be one of dignified remembrance, free from distractions or breaches of protocol.
With the coordinated efforts of security agencies, the media, and the public, Friday’s state funeral is set to be a moment of collective mourning and respect for the lives lost in service to the country.
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