Ghana on Saturday bid farewell to Dr. Samuel Sarpong, a former Deputy Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and one of the eight victims of the August 6 military helicopter crash. His funeral, held at the Black Star Square, drew mourners from across the political divide, the public sector, and his home regions of Ashanti and Central, where he once served as Regional Minister.
Dr. Sarpong, remembered for his dedication to public service and community development, had also served as Mayor of Kumasi, a role in which he earned the honorary title “Nkosuohene” for his contributions to local progress.
In a moving tribute, his children described him as a tireless leader whose standards in both public life and family life remain unmatched. “You run the race with pride and honour, you have paid your dues, rest well,” they said.
They recalled his discipline, humility, and respect for time, values they said defined him as a statesman who saw public service as a sacred duty. “You lived a life of purpose, dignity and a sense of duty not just to us but to Ghana,” they added.
The tribute painted a portrait of Dr. Sarpong as more than a politician. To his family, he was a hero, mentor, provider, and friend. They shared the pain of his sudden departure and their unrealized plans to encourage him into retirement. “Time was fast approaching for us to keep you away from work and make you stay home and reflect upon the youthful moments we fed you… yet daddy, you were running away from us into eternity, daddy why?”
Dr. Sarpong is survived by his wife of 37 years, Mrs. Hannah Sarpong, their four sons and a daughter.
The crash that claimed his life occurred en route to an anti-illegal mining operation in Obuasi, leaving the nation in mourning for the eight distinguished Ghanaians lost in the tragedy.
As his coffin lay draped in national colours, the tributes underscored the enduring mark he left—as a politician committed to development, a family man devoted to his household, and a leader whose legacy will remain a guiding light.
