Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Hosts May 9 Foundation Delegation and Heart Surgery Beneficiaries
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II hosts May 9 Foundation delegation and celebrates children benefiting from life-saving heart surgeries.
- 117 children have received successful heart surgeries through the initiative.
- Herbert Mensah leads delegation to Manhyia Palace.
- Asantehene praises efforts turning tragedy into humanitarian support for children.
The delegation was led by Herbert Mensah, President of the May 9 Foundation, who also serves as Secretary to the Shen Yang and Shen Yuet Children’s Heart Foundation.
They were accompanied by children who had successfully undergone surgery for hole-in-heart conditions at the National Cardiothoracic Centre at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. According to the foundation, 117 children have been successfully operated on over the past two years through the initiative.
Also present were representatives including Erica Amoako of the Shen Yang and Shen Yuet Children’s Heart Foundation, Jacky Chan of SUNDA in the Ashanti Region, and officials involved in coordinating the foundation’s activities.
The visit formed part of events marking both the 76th birthday of the Asantehene and the solemn remembrance of the May 9 stadium disaster, which claimed more than 126 lives during a match between Asante Kotoko SC and Accra Hearts of Oak SC.
At the time of the tragedy, Herbert Mensah was Chairman of Asante Kotoko SC, of which the Asantehene remains Life Patron.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II interacted warmly with the children and commended Herbert Mensah for transforming the painful memory of the disaster into a humanitarian initiative that now brings hope to children with heart conditions.
The Asantehene praised the foundation’s efforts in providing access to expensive surgeries, which cost between $6,000 and $14,000 per child, fully funded by the initiative and its partners.
He encouraged continued support for children with congenital heart conditions and urged broader philanthropic efforts to improve healthcare access for vulnerable families.
The Shen Yang and Shen Yuet Children’s Heart Foundation, founded by Y.C. Shen of SUNDA International Group, continues to focus on supporting children whose families cannot afford critical heart surgery.
Herbert Mensah reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to expanding the programme to reach more children in need in the coming years.
