The wife of the late Dr Samuel Sarpong says she is still waiting to welcome him home, despite the painful reality of his death in the 6 August helicopter crash.

Speaking during the State funeral for the eight victims of the 6 August military helicopter crash, she recalled their last conversation before the tragic incident.

“I remember the call you made to me in the early hours of that fateful and dark Wednesday, telling me you were leaving for Obuasi on a national assignment. You assured me it was a return journey. I am still looking forward to welcoming you back home, my dear husband,” she said.

She described Dr Sarpong as a devoted husband, a man of integrity, and a source of unwavering support through life’s most difficult moments.

“Your departure was so sudden that I still cannot believe it. The news of your passing continues to pierce through my very soul, leaving a deep and unbearable void in my heart,” she added.

Paying tribute to his life at home, she said he built their household into “a place of peace, a kingdom of life, and a haven of happiness” where the family thrived in unity and love. “You cared for us with such gracious love and led us with such a determined heart. You prayed with us, dreamed with us, and stood by us no matter the season.”

She also praised his public service but said it was his role as a husband and father that truly defined him. “You were not just my husband; you were my partner in every sense of the word,” she noted.

Fighting back tears, she appealed to him as though he could still hear her. “Oh, Sarpong Kumankuma, hear my call and come back. Tell me this news is not true. The day is gloomy, the sun is gone, the weather is heavy, darkness is falling, and the space is empty. Hear our voices—those of your beloved wife and children, my dear husband.”

She ended her tribute by saying the family could still feel his presence in their home.

“We can still hear the sound of your footsteps around the house, offering protection for the family. You ran a good race, my husband. May the doors of heaven be open for you until we meet again. Rest well, my dear husband. Sarpong Kumankuma, nanti yie, damirifa due.”