The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei-Tutu II welcomed members of the “May 9th Foundation” and children from the “Shen Yang and Shen Yuet Children’s Heart Foundation” as part of the activities to mark the 25th anniversary of the May 9th, 2001 Accra stadium Disaster.
President of the May 9th Foundation, Herbert Mensah, who is also secretary to the Shen Yang & Shen Yuet Children’s Heart Foundation, led a delegation of surviving children to meet the Asantehene.
One hundred and seventeen (117) children under the project have undergone successful surgeries at the Cardio Centre at the Korle Bu teaching hospital in the past two years to cure the hole-in-heart conditions
The delegation included Erica Amoako, administrator of the Shen Yang and Shen Yuet Children’s Heart Foundation, Jacky Chan, managing director of SUNDA in Ashanti Region, Rafatu Inusah, President of Ghana Rugby as well as King Edward, Joseph Chester Annie and Sacut Amenga-Etego who are all involved in coordinating activities for the May 9th foundation.
The occasion was special as it coincided with the 76th birthday celebrations of the Asantehene and solemn since it was the 25th anniversary of the May 9th, 2001 Accra stadium stampede that claimed the young lives of over 126 Ghanaian soccer fans.
The stampede took place in the middle of a league game between Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak football clubs.
At the time, Herbert Mensah was the Chairman of Asante Kotoko of which the Asantehene remains the life patron.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, spared time to interact with the visiting surviving children and praised Herbert Mensah for not only single-handedly keeping the memories of the victims of the stadium disaster alive for 25 years, but also for turning the despair of families into hope for many including the hole-in-heart surviving children who have benefited from his work with the foundation.
These children are part of those who have survived their surgeries through the kind support of the May 9th Foundation and the generous sponsorship of the Shen Yang & Shen Yuet Children’s Heart Foundation.
Herbert Mensah disclosed to the Asantehene that besides the one hundred and seventeen (117) children who have so far benefitted from the Children’s foundation and survived their surgeries, the foundation is committed to continuing its support for many more children in the coming months and years at the Korle Bu Teaching hospital with a cost of each child’s operation ranging from between $6,000 and $14,000 and paid for by the Foundation.
The Shen Yang & Shen Yuet Children’s Heart Foundation is the heart and brain child of Y.C Shen, chairman of the SUNDA International group of companies operating in Ghana and many African countries.
This foundation has committed itself to rescuing as many Ghanaian children as possible from hole-in-heart disease particularly for those whose families are incapable of the financial burden.
The Asantehene, a life-long philanthropist himself, encouraged the team to continue to support many more children with hole-in-heart and other diseases whilst shedding the light so others may follow in their footsteps.
