The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Obuasi West, Faustilove Appiah Kannin, has recounted her final conversations with Samuel Aboagye, one of the victims of the August 6 military helicopter crash in the Ashanti Region.
Aboagye, who was serving as Acting Deputy Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), was aboard the ill-fated Z-9 Air Force helicopter that went down in the Adansi Akrofuom District — a tragedy that has plunged the nation into mourning.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Madam Kannin revealed that Aboagye contacted her early that morning to coordinate transport for their mutual acquaintance, former Minister Alhaji Muniru Limuna Mohammed, who was also among the victims.
“I was coordinating the event, and he first called around 6:45 a.m. to inform me that our godfather, Alhaji Muniru, was flying to Obuasi and I should pick him up at the airstrip. I told my driver to prepare the car to go and meet him,” she recounted.
Shortly after, she received a call from Alhaji himself, confirming that Aboagye had spoken to her. She assured him preparations were underway and believed they had not yet departed from Accra.
The MCE explained that a series of location changes followed as the morning unfolded, reportedly due to bad weather affecting the helicopter’s ability to land.
“Around 8 a.m., Aboagye called again, asking that the driver meet them at Ofori Stadium. Then he changed the plan back to the airstrip. Later, at about 9 a.m., he instructed the driver to head to the Black Park, near the event grounds,” she said.
Madam Kannin said she was unaware Aboagye himself was aboard the helicopter, as all their discussions focused on Alhaji Muniru.
“After that last call, I tried reaching both of them, but neither picked up. That was the last time I heard from them,” she recalled solemnly.
The crash claimed the lives of eight distinguished Ghanaians: Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Minister of Defence; Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology; Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Samuel Aboagye, former parliamentary candidate; Dr Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the NDC; Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala; Flying Officer Manean Twum-Ampadu; and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
Alhaji Muniru and Dr Murtala were buried on Sunday, August 10, in line with Islamic rites, with an inter-denominational state burial for all victims scheduled for August 15.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has confirmed that investigations are underway, with support from international experts, to determine the cause of the crash.
Listen to the MCE in the audio attached above:
Source: Gertrude Otchere
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