The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has urged media practitioners, social commentators, bloggers, and content creators to exercise restraint and accuracy in reporting on the recent Air Force Z-9 helicopter crash in the Ashanti Region, which claimed the lives of all eight personnel on board.
In a statement signed by Captain VA Arhin, Acting Director General of Public Relations, the GAF expressed concern over the growing spread of speculative and unsubstantiated reports, warning that such conjectures risk misleading the public and worsening the grief of the bereaved families.
“For the sake of the bereaved families and loved ones, the Armed Forces urge media practitioners, panelists, social commentators, bloggers, and content creators to be circumspect in their reportage as a way of according respect to the memories of the fallen heroes and to mitigate the sorrows of the bereaved families,” the statement read.
The GAF acknowledged the high public interest in the tragedy and assured that thorough investigations were underway to determine the exact cause, with a readiness to involve international experts if necessary.
“At this point in time, any purported conclusions based on opinion, perceptions, and conjectures will be premature and misleading. The public is therefore advised to be wary of such reportage,” the statement added.
The Armed Forces expressed appreciation to the government, institutions, and individuals who have shown support since the incident and extended condolences to the bereaved families, describing the fallen as patriots whose sacrifices will be remembered. “May the souls of our patriots continue to rest in peace,” the statement concluded.
