Last Chat Between Late NDC Vice Chairman Samuel Sarpong and His Son After Helicopter Took Off Emerges

A touching final exchange between the late National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Vice Chairman, Dr. Samuel Sarpong, and his children has surfaced, shedding light on the moments before the fatal helicopter crash that claimed his life.

According to his son, who spoke on the sidelines of the Evening of Reflections & Memorial event held at the Forecourt of the State House on Saturday, August 9, Dr. Sarpong had informed his family earlier that morning that he would be attending an event in Obuasi.

“He had informed us that he would be attending an event in Obuasi. So, on Wednesday morning, he sent us photos. In one of the photos, he was seated with some people. The other photo also showed him on the flight, which had taken off and was mid-air,” the son recounted.

The most striking detail of the conversation was the short message Dr. Sarpong sent alongside the photo from inside the helicopter a single word: “Airborne.”

His son revealed that the family began to grow uneasy when they noticed that their father was not among the dignitaries present at the Obuasi event. Soon after, a government official announced that there had been an emergency.

“We then saw the minister announce that there had been an emergency which they had to attend to. It was at that point that my brother, while on social media, came across a post by a news portal stating that a helicopter had been involved in a crash. It was later that we found out that all those aboard the helicopter had burnt and there were no survivors,” he said.

Dr. Sarpong, along with seven others, tragically lost their lives in the August 6, 2025 crash involving the Z-9 military helicopter. The tragedy has left the NDC, his family, and the nation in deep mourning.