Author: Lucy Fuseini
Affiliation: Department of Forensic Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.
Date: 20 September 2025
SUMMARY: Assistant Professor in Forensic Sciences, Dr Aaron Amankwaa, interviewed on Akwaaba Radio, Cape Coast, on forensic science investigations in disaster incidents. (Interview Date: 08 August 2025, HOST: Mr Kwame Dapaa Asare (Osahene), English Translation: Lucy Fuseini)
AARON: Thanks to you and your listeners for the opportunity.
HOST: Despite your busy schedule, you’ve found it necessary to offer us your time and share your knowledge. We are grateful.
HOST: In the first place, what is forensic science? And given the situation at hand which requires forensics, what does that mean in a layman’s opinion?
AARON: Thanks. If we consider the sciences, there are many disciplines, such as biology, chemistry, physics, and many others. When we say forensic science, what we mean is using our knowledge in science to assist the police in order for them to investigate crime and identify the facts or circumstances surrounding the crime in order to prosecute anybody involved. Basically, it means using science to understand questions that are of legal interest to assist the court in prosecuting a case.
HOST: In applying such science, what would be needed or required to come out with a result?
AARON: Looking at the current incident [helicopter crash], we have two specific issues the police want to understand:
- Unfortunately, the people involved were burnt beyond recognition because of the impact, and some of the bodies have been commingled. So, we need to identify each body to bring closure to their family members.
- What caused the accident and what can be done to prevent future occurrences to ensure aviation safety.
What forensic science can do to help is through DNA, which is present in every single cell of the body and predicts our phenotype, with half originating from each of our parents. Some portions of DNA are highly specific, which makes identification through DNA profiling possible. The sample is analyzed to obtain a DNA profile, which is compared to a standard reference such as a previous blood sample, donated sample, or toothbrush to identify matches. The use of dental records can also be applied.
HOST: With the bodies burnt beyond recognition, are the cells needed to identify them still intact? Are they not denatured? Also, with regard to the reference toothbrush, will they gather things victims have previously used to compare with the tests being done in South Africa?
AARON: These cells can be found in every tissue of the body, so bone samples can be used for analysis to generate the DNA profile.
HOST: Does it mean that no matter the degree of burns, if little remains are left, DNA can still be obtained?
AARON: Exactly, but in a situation where there is no tissue available, DNA analysis is impossible. If there are hairs, tissues, or any other body parts remaining, then it can be done.
HOST: What are the possible things needed to connect or compare the results from the remains at the scene?
AARON: Reference samples, including past samples collected in blood donation exercises or any tissue for analysis. In the absence of these, a toothbrush or personal clothing frequently or recently used by the individual, and not washed, can also be used.
Additionally, biological samples from relatives such as the mother, father, or children can be collected and analyzed as reference samples.
HOST: Being a member of the forensic family, do you think we have the capacity to apply forensic science to handle such complex incidents in this country domestically?
AARON: Ghana invested in forensic science in 2011, leading to the establishment of the Ghana Police Forensic Lab in Accra, which has a DNA analysis unit. But, the issue is that they are not accredited to international standards, which sometimes leads to further confirmation after they have conducted the analysis. Also, we don’t have a national forensic science strategy. The number of forensic labs in Ghana is inadequate. If Ghana had another standardized forensic lab, further confirmation could have been done here without the need to send samples to South Africa.
Hopefully, this incident will serve as a lesson for Ghana to invest in forensic science so that we can have adequate forensic laboratories. I know UCC and KNUST have started forensic programs; the government can help them establish DNA forensic labs or invest in their capacity. This will render it unnecessary to send samples to South Africa for further confirmation.
Aside from these, we have the Ghana Academy of Forensic Sciences, a professional association that can also invest in building forensic labs to perform all confirmatory analyses in Ghana.
HOST: With regards to the accreditation you mentioned, does it mean because we are not accredited to international standards, any research we conduct can have its accuracy challenged?
AARON: The fact that the lab is not accredited does not mean its results or analysis are incorrect. Even without accreditation, they must have what we call a quality management system in place that follows international standards irrespective of their lack of formal accreditation.
But from my experience, it is normally challenging to trust the reliability of results without accreditation.
HOST: So, the Health Minister’s response that even if we do it in Ghana, we have to send it outside for further confirmation to be assured of identity. Is that the case, or is it because we don’t have accredited facilities and it’s only recently that UCC and KNUST started forensics, that we are sending samples to South Africa for acceptance?
AARON: From my experience, it is not always necessary to send samples to South Africa if the police lab has already conducted the analysis. But every country has its protocol regarding forensic science, and in developing countries, further confirmation is often required. Even in the UK, some labs don’t have accreditation, but courts still accept their results.
What is needed is a regulatory system that allows a second party to check (audit) the analysis done by the primary lab to confirm its correctness. If that system were available, there would be no need to send samples to South Africa if the police lab had already done the analysis.
AARON: The regulatory system is not there. We lack a forensic science regulator and a national forensic science policy or strategy, which is why samples are sent to South Africa. If these were in place, it would be pointless to send the samples outside.
HOST: You mentioned that it can be investigated to find out what led to the incident. As a layman without any knowledge in forensic science, we are hearing about the “black box,” which fortunately every aircraft has, and in this case, it has been found. It is said that it normally records exactly what happened. Is it that same black box forensic scientists are going to use for the investigation, or is forensic science applied differently?
AARON: The black box, formally called the flight recorder, records flight data and the cockpit voice or any sound in the cockpit at the time of flight. Forensic investigation, however, goes beyond the black box. It offers limited information about what transpired, but beyond that, many things are investigated. From the forensic perspective, we want to:
1. Understand the cause, and one analysis we usually do is wreckage analysis, which involves engineers. At the crash site, the distribution of the particles or debris and the nature of the impact must be considered to reconstruct the event.
HOST: The impact—you mean how the flight hit the ground and the degree of damage?
AARON: Yes, exactly. But unfortunately, due to our lack of a national forensic strategy and limited public awareness, people disturbed the crime scene, making it difficult to reconstruct the event.
2. The cause of the accident could be human error, mechanical error, or weather conditions at the time of flight. So, different factors must be investigated. Forensic toxicology can also come in if tissue samples from the remains are obtained. A toxicologist can analyze to find out if the pilot had alcohol or substances in his system while flying, linking it to human error. Pathological analysis can also determine if the person had any disease or condition that affected performance while flying. Aside from that, analysis of the degree of damage to the aircraft can verify if it was a mechanical failure.
HOST: You mentioned debris and particles at the scene can help reconstruct the event. Given that locals took some parts of the debris, won’t it affect reconstruction and analysis? And people suggested the scene should have been secured with barricade tape to prevent contamination.
AARON: Exactly. That’s why I said earlier Ghana has limited forensic awareness. Aside from that, we lack a national forensic strategy. There was a delay in the response of police and NADMO, which gave many people the chance to enter the scene and collect evidence. This disturbs the investigation and limits our ability to know the sequence of events beyond the black box. That is why GAFS has begun public outreach so people understand that in situations like these, they are not supposed to touch or take anything but wait for police to investigate.
HOST: If we were to identify the cause, will it take long?
AARON: It will take time, even up to a year, depending on resources and capacity. But DNA can take two weeks to a month. We have a robot that helps with extraction and amplification, which quickens the analysis.
However, due to the complexity of the case, if body parts are mingled, there must be enough time for sampling. DNA itself can take a day or two to generate, but arranging body parts before analysis and then interpreting results can extend the process to two weeks to a month.
HOST: Is it the same as paternity testing?
AARON: Yes. If samples from both the child and the father are collected, they can help in identification. The same principle applies here. Reference samples may come from toothbrushes, medical records, or family members. And because of Muslim customs, results are needed quickly for burial.
HOST: When you first heard the incident involving the two ministers, how did you feel?
AARON: I was at work, and when I got home, I saw the news. I was very sad since it was unfortunate to lose such prominent figures. Aside from that, within the past week or two, several accidents had already occurred in Ghana, including one involving 16 children.
So, my condolences to the families, the president, and Ghana at large. This reminds us to strengthen our systems to prevent similar incidents in the future. That is why an investigation is necessary.
HOST: Please elaborate on “strengthening our systems.” Many people are saying that, and I even saw a video of the aircraft flying where one could clearly hear it wasn’t in the best condition. So, do you mean that when the aircraft was about to take off, someone should have verified if it was airworthy?
AARON: Something like that. We have to strengthen our systems. In very few countries, when handling national business, they use private flights. We must strengthen our systems because:
• The safety of our leaders is a priority. We must ensure that when they travel, the vehicle or aircraft is safe.
• We must also develop our roads.
The important thing is to know the cause of the incident. If it was a mechanical error, it should prompt us to upgrade the aircraft we use.
HOST: I wanted to ask, since you are outside the country, what advice can you offer us? But I think you’ve already done justice to that.
AARON: Yes, but the key point is Ghana needs a national forensic strategy or policy to conduct proper investigations. Secondly, we need public awareness of forensic science so that crime scene disturbance will reduce. I am aware GAFS is holding its inaugural congress on September 6, where some of these issues will be raised.
HOST: Before you go, if we want to conduct DNA or trace someone’s identity and the examiner is abroad like you, does it require your presence before the test can be carried out?
AARON: No, we only need the samples of the parent and the child. DNA kits will be sent to you for sample collection—either hair or saliva—and then shipped back.
HOST: Considering your knowledge and qualifications, why don’t you bring them to Ghana to help us?
AARON: I am on it. Even though I am outside, I still collaborate with Ghanaians. I am currently part of the GAFS congress committee helping to organize the conference. I also do research with Ghanaian academics, and we even published research on forensic science in 2019, making recommendations on how to improve capacity. So, I am still collaborating and contributing to Ghana’s development.
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