On August 6, 2025, a tragic Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter crash in Sikaman Forest near Obuasi, Ashanti Region, claimed the lives of eight individuals, including high-profile figures like Defence Minister Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Alhaji Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Murtala, and NDC Vice Chairman Samuel Sarpong. Among the victims was Samuel Aboagye, a 44-year-old former NDC parliamentary candidate for Obuasi East (in 2020 and 2024 elections) and Deputy Director-General of Operations at the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO). The group was en route to launch the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) to combat illegal mining.
The crash left the victims’ remains charred and unrecognizable, necessitating advanced DNA analysis in South Africa. Results for six victims, including Aboagye, were received by the Ghanaian government by August 11, 2025, confirming identities and allowing burials. Aboagye, born December 23, 1980, left behind a legacy of public service, humility, and family devotion—he was reportedly planning a trip to the U.S. to visit his wife and child just days before the incident.
Aboagye was married to Abigail Salami (often referred to as Abigail Aboagye in media), a U.S.-based professional, and they shared one young daughter, in addition to Aboagye’s older daughter from a previous marriage. Photos and tributes from Abigail, including an emotional video montage of their life together, surfaced shortly after the crash, showing her grieving publicly while holding their child. She returned to Ghana for his one-week observance on August 13, 2025, where she was seen breaking down in tears amid condolences.
The DNA Test Dispute: Facts Over Speculation
Fast-forward to November 11, 2025—over three months later—the late Aboagye’s extended family has filed a lawsuit against Abigail in the Obuasi District Court. The core issue: The family alleges Abigail has refused repeated requests to provide a DNA sample from their shared daughter to “verify” paternity, despite the government initially requiring family-submitted samples (including from Aboagye’s older daughter) for victim identification back in August. Reports indicate Abigail has sent the child to the U.S. for safety and petitioned the court to block any forced testing, citing privacy and emotional trauma.
This isn’t about re-identifying crash remains—those were confirmed via Aboagye’s own DNA profile months ago. Instead, it’s a post-mortem family inheritance or succession matter, where Ghanaian customary law often requires proof of biological ties for claims on estates, especially involving minor children. Public discourse on X (formerly Twitter) and local media has fueled rumors of infidelity or hidden affairs, but no evidence supports this—it’s classic sensationalism in a high-profile widow’s grief. Abigail’s actions—returning for memorials, sharing loving family photos, and now fighting legally—suggest she’s protecting her daughter’s well-being amid invasive family pressures, not concealing a secret.
What Could She Be “Hiding”? A Grounded Take
The query’s phrasing implies scandal, but the truth is more mundane and human: nothing explosive, just the messy reality of widowhood, cross-border family dynamics, and inheritance battles in Ghana. Here’s a breakdown of plausible motivations, based on reported facts:
- Protecting Child Privacy and Trauma: At three months post-crash, forcing a DNA swab on a young child (who was photographed in Abigail’s arms during tributes) could retraumatize her. Abigail, based in the U.S., may view it as unnecessary harassment, especially since Aboagye publicly embraced the child and planned family visits. Sending the child abroad aligns with safeguarding her from media frenzy and family drama.
- Challenging Patriarchal Inheritance Norms: In Ghana, extended families (often male-led) can claim estates under customary law, sidelining widows. Abigail’s court petition asserts her and her daughter’s legal rights as nuclear family, potentially blocking the extended kin from controlling assets like Aboagye’s NADMO benefits or political legacy. She’s “hiding” autonomy, not paternity—empowering her child against opportunistic relatives.
- No Evidence of Infidelity: Pre-crash bios confirm Aboagye and Abigail’s marriage and shared daughter; no prior scandals exist. Rumors stem from X posts amplifying the refusal without context, but they’re unsubstantiated gossip. If anything’s hidden, it’s the extended family’s full motives—perhaps resentment over Abigail’s U.S. residence or control of Aboagye’s will.