Accra: The Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana (CIMG) is urging the media to exercise ethical judgement, sensitivity, and circumspection as Ghana mourns the death of eight helicopter crash victims.
According to Ghana News Agency, the institute joins several other organisations such as the Ghana Psychological Association and the Psychiatric Association of Ghana, who have expressed concerns over the inappropriate circulation of visuals from the helicopter crash site. ‘Let us honour the memory of the departed by treating this tragedy with dignity and respect,’ CIMG said in a statement signed by its President, Mr. Michael Abbiw.
The institute expressed its condolences to President John Dramani Mahama, the Ghana Armed Forces, and the families of the bereaved. ‘We pray for God’s divine strength and comfort to surround them during this profoundly difficult time,’ it added.
The Institute highlighted the critical mission the departed were engaged in, aimed at combating illegal small-scale mining, emphasizing the need for the government to advance responsible mining and environmental stewardship. ‘Let us honour their lives and missions by inspiring collective action and national pride. May this moment of grief also serve as a call to build a safer, more united, and resilient Ghana,’ it said.
Despite the national mourning, the institute called for celebrating the virtues and devotion of the deceased to the ideals of integrity, service, and progress of Ghana. The CIMG affirmed its commitment to supporting initiatives that promote safety, transparency, and sustainability in public policy and national development. ‘We stand ready to contribute our expertise in integrated marketing communications to support behavioural change initiatives.’
The Institute commended the efforts of security personnel, emergency responders, and those who worked diligently to recover the remains of the deceased and ensure dignified conveyance to the morgue. ‘Their commitment to duty, even in the face of overwhelming emotion, is deeply appreciated,’ it said.
The Minister of Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, and the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Alhaji Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, were among the six public officials who lost their lives in the tragic helicopter crash on Wednesday, August 6. They were onboard a Ghana Armed Forces Z-9 helicopter en route to Obuasi to attend the Responsible Co-operative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), an initiative aimed at tackling illegal mining, when the tragic incident occurred.
The helicopter briefly went missing in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region. Also confirmed dead were Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Samuel Aboagye, a former Parliamentary Candidate; and Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). The helicopter’s three crew members, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah, all lost their lives.
The victims’ bodies have been transported to the 37 Military Hospital in Accra. President John Dramani Mahama has since declared three days of national mourning beginning Thursday, August 7, to honour their memory.