The late Samuel Aboagye, Acting Deputy Director-General of Operations at the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), had been preparing to travel to the United States to reunite with his wife and child before his untimely death in Wednesday’s tragic helicopter crash.

This was revealed by former Member of Parliament for Odododiodoo, Nii Lante Vanderpuye, who described Mr Aboagye as a “son” to him.

According to Mr Vanderpuye, now Director of DRIP, the two had finalised travel arrangements over the weekend, with Mr Aboagye excited about the long-anticipated trip.

"Next week, he is supposed to travel to go and visit his wife and child in the USA. We are planning because he was supposed to take some parcels to my daughter — my daughter and Aboagye are the same age. Aboagye doesn't call me Honourable, he calls me Daddy," he said.

"Just last week, we went for a funeral in Kumasi, just last week, and I don't know. If Aboagye knew he was going to die, he should have told me because I never expected Aboagye to die and die this young," he added.

Mr Vanderpuye further described the late NADMO official as “a promising young man, very promising and very respectful.”

Mr Aboagye, who previously contested as the NDC’s parliamentary candidate for Obuasi East in the 2020 and 2024 general elections, was one of eight officials who perished in the military helicopter crash while on national assignment.