The Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIB Ghana) has taken a significant step toward strengthening stakeholder collaboration with a familiarisation visit to the Ghana Psychology Council, aimed at enhancing cooperation in areas related to accident investigations and post-incident psychological support.
The engagement, held last Thursday, forms part of AIB Ghana’s broader efforts to deepen partnerships with key institutions whose expertise contributes to aviation safety, effective investigations, and support for victims and their families in the event of aviation accidents.
Speaking at the meeting, the Commissioner of AIB Ghana, Mr John Wumborti, explained that the visit followed an internal review of the Bureau’s mandate which highlighted the important role of psychological expertise in aviation accident investigations and post-incident response.
Mr Wumborti noted that while the Council had not previously been formally recognised among AIB Ghana’s stakeholders, its role was critical in supporting the Bureau’s mandate, particularly in circumstances involving fatalities or traumatic incidents.
“If there is an accident and lives are lost, families and loved ones are left with emotional trauma. These individuals will need mental strength to cope with the new reality, and this is where the role of the Psychology Council becomes extremely important,” he stated.
He added that AIB Ghana intends to formally incorporate the Council into its stakeholder network and would in the coming days, share a document outlining areas of cooperation and expectations for collaboration.
Providing further insight into the technical relevance of the partnership, the Head of Investigation at AIB Ghana, Captain Paul Forjoe, explained that psychological assessment was an important component in determining factors that may contribute to aviation accidents.
“Our work is to determine why things go wrong so that they never happen again. In some investigations, it is important to examine the psychological state of individuals involved to determine whether stress or other psychological factors played a role,” he said.
Captain Forjoe noted that AIB Ghana does not have in-house psychologists and has previously relied on external support without a structured advisory framework.
“We believe that working with the Psychology Council will help us obtain the right expertise and ensure that our processes align with best practices,” he explained.
He also highlighted the role psychologists could play in supporting victims and families affected by aviation accidents, in line with international civil aviation requirements that call for sensitive communication and trauma-informed engagement.
Responding to the proposal, the Acting Registrar of the Ghana Psychology Council, Ms Anna Plange, welcomed the collaboration and pledged the Council’s full support.
She emphasised that aviation accidents have far-reaching psychological effects that extend beyond immediate victims and families to the wider national community.
“We are happy to collaborate with you and to support your work. When incidents like these occur, they affect not only families but the entire country. Providing psychological support is therefore essential,” she said.
The visit marks the beginning of what both institutions described as a mutually beneficial partnership aimed at strengthening aviation safety investigations while ensuring that psychological considerations are effectively integrated into accident response and prevention efforts.