Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the National Chairman of Ghana’s ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), has disclosed that he was initially slated to be aboard the helicopter that tragically crashed in Adansi on August 6th, resulting in the deaths of eight officials.
Addressing a recent gathering, Asiedu Nketia revealed that he made a last-minute decision to send his Vice Chairman, Dr. Samuel Sarpong, to represent him instead. It was Dr. Sarpong who perished in the devastating accident.
“I was supposed to be on the flight as well, but at the last minute, I directed my Vice Chairman, Dr. Sarpong, to go and stand on my behalf, and he accepted,”Asiedu Nketia recounted.
Reflecting on the tragic turn of events, he expressed the complex nature of fate and divine will.
“In your human way, you might think that if I had not sent Sarpong, maybe he would be alive. But who knows? God might have decided that if this was his time, he could have been knocked down by a trotro in Accra.”
He urged people to accept the tragedy with humility and faith, emphasizing that questioning divine will serves little purpose.
“So, we don’t question what Allah wants to do, and He has done it. So, in all things, we have to give thanks to Him. Because when you talk about if this had not happened, maybe something worse could have happened. So, we cannot fully understand.”
The helicopter crash has sent shockwaves through Ghana’s political and social circles, with many mourning the loss of key party figures.
The Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter, which departed Accra at 9:12 a.m. en route to Obuasi, lost contact on the radar after takeoff.
All eight persons on board were later confirmed dead.
Aside from the two serving ministers namely Dr. Edward Omane Boamah Defence Minister, Alhaji Dr. Murtala Mohammed Minister for Environment; the acting Deputy National Security Coordinator and former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna; the Vice-Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Sarpong, and former parliamentary candidate, Samuel Aboagye, were also onboard.
The military officers were Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
Source: www.Kumasimail/Kwadwo Owusu
