National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has revealed that he was initially scheduled to be aboard the helicopter that crashed in the Ashanti Region on Wednesday, August 6, killing Dr. Sarpong and seven people, including two cabinet ministers.
The crash which happened in the Adansi area claimed the lives of Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah; Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, NDC Vice Chairman, Dr. Samuel Sarpong; and five others.
Asiedu Nketiah disclosed that a last-minute change of plans meant that Dr. Sarpong took his place on the trip to Obuasi for the launch of the Responsible Co-operative Mining and Skills Development Programme (COMSDEP).
Speaking while commiserating with one of the bereaved families, he said: “Allah does what he wants. I was supposed to be on the flight, and last minute, I directed my vice chairman, Dr. Sarpong, to go and stand in for the party, and he accepted it.”
Mr Asiedu Nketiah urged bereaved families to find solace in their faith, describing the tragedy as a reminder of life’s unpredictability.
Mr. Asiedu Nketiah reflected on the circumstances that led to the death of Dr. Samuel Sarpong, and seven others stating, “In your human ways, you may be thinking that if I had not sent Sarpong, maybe he would be living. But who knows? God might have decided that if this is his time, he will be knocked down by a trotro [commercial bus] in Accra. So, we don’t question what Allah wants to do. So, in all things, we give thanks to him.”
He added that while the loss is immense, it is possible that “if it didn’t happen, something worse might have happened,” encouraging mourners to draw comfort from that perspective.
Dr. Sarpong’s passing, Mr. Nketiah said, leaves a significant void in the NDC, describing his decision to stand in for him as a final act of selfless service to the party and the nation.
Authorities are continuing investigations into the cause of the crash.
The eight victims were:
Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence
Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, and MP for Tamale Central
Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator
Dr. Samuel Sarpong, National Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)
Samuel Aboagye, a former parliamentary candidate
Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala
Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu
Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah
A flower-laying ceremony which started on Thursday, August 7 is part of a series of national mourning events leading up to the state burial scheduled for August 15, 2025, and continues on Saturday, August 9.
