Asiedu Nketiah Confirms He Was Supposed To Be On Crashed Army Helicopter
- National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, was supposed to be on the helicopter that crashed on August 6
- The crash, which happened in the Adansi area, claimed the lives of eight persons, including an NDC executive
- Asiedu Nketiah said a last-minute change of plans meant someone else took his place on the trip
National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has said he was initially scheduled to be aboard the helicopter that crashed in the Ashanti Region on August 6, killing eight people.
Nketiah said a last-minute change of plans meant that former Ashanti Regional Minister Dr Samuel Sarpong, who died in the crash, took his place.
The helicopter was on the trip to Obuasi for the launch of the Responsible Co-operative Mining and Skills Development Programme.
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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.”
He also said Sarpong's death left a 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.
An eyewitness at the helicopter crash site claimed the helicopter lost its balance after hitting a tree and a mountain before going down in flames in the thick forest in Adansi Akrofum.
Another eyewitness told the BBC the helicopter was flying at an 'unusually low altitude' and that the weather was bad. He said he heard the sound of the helicopter passing by, followed by a loud bang.
Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment, Science and Technology Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed were the ministers killed in the crash at Adansi Akrofuom.
The Z-9 helicopter they were travelling in crashed into dense forest as it was flying from the capital, Accra, to the town of Obuasi for a state event.
Who else died in Obuasi helicopter crash?
The three other civilians who died in the crash were identified as Deputy National Security Coordinator Limuna Muniru and former Parliamentary Candidate for Obuasi East, Samuel Aboagye.
The army personnel who died in the crash were identified as Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
Their bodies were retrieved and flown to Accra late on August 6. Samples of the remains of the dead have been South Africa for DNA analysis to aid in their identification.
Mahama replaces ministers killed in helicopter tragedy
YEN.com.gh reported that Mahama appointed Dr Cassiel Ato Forson to serve as acting Defence Minister, while Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah will oversee Environment, Science and Technology temporarily.
The presidency, in a statement on August 7, said the respective Finance and Lands and Natural Resources Ministers had been asked to take on these additional duties, with no timeline given for the filling of the two posts.
Source: YEN.com.gh
