Forensic medical scientist and security intelligence researcher, Lawrence Kofi Acheampong, has defended the use of cocoa sacks in transporting the victims of the August 6 military helicopter crash, arguing that the practice falls within accepted disaster response procedures under certain emergency conditions.
His clarification comes in response to public outcry after disturbing videos surfaced showing charred human remains being carried in sacks rather than standard body bags. The crash, which occurred in the Ashanti Region, claimed eight lives, including three Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) personnel, sparking nationwide grief and raising questions about the handling of victims.
In a press release dated August 13, the GAF dismissed suggestions that body bags were unavailable at the scene. According to the military, the extent of the burns made the use of conventional body bags impractical, compelling first responders to resort to sacks to ensure secure recovery and preservation of the remains under difficult field conditions.
Speaking on The Big Issue on Channel One TV, Mr. Acheampong underscored that disaster recovery operations cannot be approached with a one-size-fits-all method.
“When an investigation is ordered, the collection of human remains becomes a critical step. Every disaster is different, and we adapt our methods to the circumstances,” he explained.
He further noted that international disaster management protocols allow for improvisation, especially in mass casualty events or in terrains where resources are limited. However, he stressed that emergency responders must also remain mindful of cultural and religious sensitivities, since mishandling remains can cause deep social distress in addition to the trauma of loss.
Expanding on the possible rationale, Mr. Acheampong suggested that the use of sacks might have been consistent with what is known as a “wet transfer”—a recognized recovery technique for moving badly burnt or fragmented remains over long distances while minimizing further degradation.
“I am convinced that those who arrived first were aiming to achieve a wet transfer, which is an internationally acceptable principle. The key concern thereafter would be ensuring that measures are in place to prevent decomposition and to allow proper forensic investigation,” he added.
Mr. Acheampong’s remarks bring a technical and forensic dimension to the ongoing debate, reframing the issue from a matter of negligence to one of operational necessity and scientific judgment. His intervention highlights the difficult balance between best practices, practical realities on the ground, and the expectations of a grieving society.
The discussion continues as families of the victims, civil society groups, and disaster management experts call for a transparent probe not only into the cause of the crash but also into how the victims’ remains were handled in the aftermath.
