A heartbreaking helicopter crash in the Ashanti Region has left the National Democratic Congress (NDC) reeling, as party chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah revealed he narrowly avoided being among the victims.
The Ghana Air Force aircraft went down on Wednesday, August 6, in the Adansi area, killing all eight people on board. Among the dead were Defence Minister Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Environment, Science and Technology Minister Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Muniru Mohammed Limuna, NDC Vice Chairman Dr. Samuel Sarpong, NADMO Deputy Director-General Samuel Aboagye, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manaen Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
According to Asiedu Nketiah, also known as “General Mosquito,” he had initially been scheduled to join the delegation flying to Obuasi for the launch of the Responsible Co-operative Mining and Skills Development Programme (COMSDEP). However, a last-minute decision saw him assign Dr. Sarpong to represent the party in his place—a move that unexpectedly saved his life.
Reflecting on the incident, the NDC chairman described it as an example of how destiny unfolds in ways beyond human understanding. He noted that while some might see his decision as the reason he survived, life’s events ultimately rest in divine hands, adding that tragedies sometimes shield us from even greater harm.
The loss of Dr. Sarpong has struck a heavy blow to the NDC, with members remembering him not only as a dedicated leader but also as someone whose final act was stepping up for his party. His passing, alongside the other prominent figures, marks one of the most devastating single incidents in recent political history.
