Pros[er Bani in the middle of the front roll at the GAFS inaugural Congress in Accra
Ghana’s National Security Advisor, Prosper Bani, has announced that government will establish two state-of-the-art forensic laboratories to strengthen the country’s crime investigation and disaster response capabilities.
The announcement comes in the wake of the recent helicopter crash in Obuasi, which killed eight people, including Environment Minister Murtala Mohammed and Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah.
The tragedy, officials say, exposed gaps in Ghana’s forensic infrastructure, particularly in the identification of victims and the timely processing of evidence.
Currently, Ghana has only one national forensic science laboratory located in Accra, a situation Bani described as inadequate for a country.
Speaking at the inaugural congress of the Ghana Academy of Forensic Sciences (GAFS) in Accra under the theme “Modernizing Crime Investigation in Ghana: Bridging Traditional Methods with Forensic Investigations through Capacity Building,” Bani stressed that the new facilities would be strategically located to expand access and improve response times.
“These laboratories will provide advanced capabilities in DNA analysis, digital forensics, toxicology, ballistics, and trace evidence,” he explained. “They will significantly strengthen the operational capacity of our security agencies and ensure that justice is not delayed and that it is founded upon fairness.”
Reflecting on the Obuasi crash, Bani said the painstaking process of victim identification highlighted Ghana’s urgent need for stronger forensic systems and international collaboration.
“We realised that we do not yet have the full capacity to undertake these processes swiftly and transparently without collaborating with our external partners,” he admitted. “This tragedy has reinforced the necessity of investing in our own forensic infrastructure.”
While emphasizing the importance of high-tech laboratories, Bani also called for investment in human capital. He stressed that forensic laboratories and equipment were only as effective as the people who operated them.
“Forensic laboratories, data systems, and investigative equipment cannot in themselves deliver justice. They must be operated by men and women of knowledge, skill, and integrity,” he said. “Capacity building stands at the core of this transformation.”
He urged greater collaboration with universities and international institutions to support training, research, and innovation in forensic science.
Bani assured the forum that President John Mahama fully supports the forensic transformation agenda, pledging government’s policy direction and resources.
“Our mission is clear: to build a forensic science system that is robust, credible, and trusted by our people — a system that will free the innocent, detain the guilty, and uphold the dignity of justice,” he concluded.
