By Grace Zigah
The tragic helicopter crash on August 6 that claimed eight lives, including that of NADMO Deputy Director General Samuel Aboagye, has taken an unexpected twist.
Reports emerging indicate that his widow, Abigail Salami, has refused to allow investigators to conduct a DNA test on their youngest child, sparking a legal and familial showdown.
According to sources, the Ghana Armed Forces and police requested the DNA test as part of ongoing investigations surrounding the crash.
However, the widow reportedly became unreachable on the scheduled day and is said to have gone into hiding with the child.
Allegations have also surfaced that Mrs. Aboagye had been involved in a relationship with a sitting Member of Parliament from the Ashanti Region prior to her husband’s death, raising suspicions over the child’s paternity.
The late Deputy Director General’s family has filed a lawsuit seeking to compel the DNA test, while the widow has filed her own suit to block it, escalating the legal battle.
The helicopter crash, which occurred in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region, claimed all eight passengers aboard the copter.
Samuel Aboagye, popularly known as Adu Kwaku, had been appointed Deputy Director General of NADMO in February 2025, serving in a key national executive role.
Before his appointment, he ran for the Obuasi East parliamentary seat on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2024 elections, losing narrowly by 19 votes.
During the state funeral at Independence Square on August 15, Abigail Salami delivered a heartfelt tribute, read by a proxy, recounting her late husband’s last messages to her.
She revealed that Samuel had sent her a birthday message on August 1, a week before the crash:
“Happy birthday, my love. You’re not only my wife but my best friend. The greatest blessing in my life. I thank God every day for you. I look forward to creating more beautiful memories together. Enjoy your day. I love you forever.”
She also recalled his final message the morning before the crash:
“Take care, babe. I love you.” Overcome with grief, Abigail Salami broke down as these messages were shared during the tribute.
Born on December 23, 1990, in Damongo, Savannah Region, Samuel Aboagye was the last child of the late Jeremiah Kwabena Aboagye and Madam Ama Ajubi.
Educated at St. Margaret Senior High School and Accra Business School, he earned a master’s degree in business administration between 2020 and 2024.
A devoted Christian, Adu was an active member of the Church of Pentecost, where his elder brother serves as a pastor.
The unfolding DNA dispute has added an unexpected layer to an already tragic story, drawing national attention amid ongoing investigations into the helicopter crash.
