The family of 24-year-old Ghanaian woman, Mercy Yaaba Bredu, who died in China shortly after travelling there to pursue a master’s degree, is appealing to the government and relevant authorities to help bring her remains back home for burial.
Bredu, who had recently completed her national service in Winneba, travelled to China on Monday, August 24, after securing a scholarship to further her education.
Her family said she was in good health when they accompanied her to the airport and showed no signs of illness.
According to her former classmates from the University of Education, Winneba, Bredu reportedly collapsed at an airport in China and was rushed to a hospital for treatment.
She was pronounced dead on Wednesday, August 26, only two days after leaving Ghana.
The family is now seeking urgent assistance from the government, Ghanaian diplomatic authorities and other relevant institutions to facilitate the repatriation of her remains.
Her elder sister, Maame Yaaba, said the family had been devastated by the sudden loss and was struggling to come to terms with what had happened.
“We are therefore calling on the government and the relevant authorities to help us bring her body back home for burial,” she said.
“Please, we need your help.”
A journey that ended in tragedy
Recounting the events leading to Bredu’s trip, her sister said the deceased had only recently completed her national service in Winneba.
“She was doing her national service in Winneba. She called us barely two weeks ago to inform us that she had completed her service,” she said.
After completing the programme, Bredu returned home and informed her family about an opportunity to continue her education abroad.
She subsequently called a family meeting to announce that she had successfully secured a scholarship to study in China.
“When she came home, she called a family meeting to inform us that she had applied for a scholarship outside the country and that everything had been successful,” her sister recounted.
Bredu then sought the family’s support as she prepared to begin what was expected to be a new chapter in her academic and professional life.
“She asked us to support her so she could embark on her journey,” her sister added.
The family supported her plans and accompanied her to the airport on Monday, August 24.
Her sister said Bredu appeared healthy and independently completed the necessary procedures before boarding her flight.
“So, on Monday, we escorted her to the airport, and her flight took off at around 1:30 p.m. She was healthy,” she said.
“She went through all the necessary processes at the airport by herself.”
The family also received a call from Bredu after the flight took off, further reassuring them that her journey had begun safely.
Family receives distressing news
The family expected to remain in contact with Bredu after her arrival in China.
However, her sister said she became concerned the following day when Bredu did not answer her calls.
“The following day, I was expecting her call, but she did not answer,” she said.
The family later received a call from someone informing them that Bredu had been hospitalised and was receiving medical attention.
“Someone later called us on her behalf to inform us that she had been hospitalised and was being attended to by health experts to save her,” she said.
Despite efforts by medical professionals, Bredu died on Wednesday, August 26.
Her family said the sudden death has been particularly difficult to accept because she appeared healthy before leaving Ghana and had undergone the necessary medical checks.
The relatives are now appealing for intervention to help them navigate the necessary processes in China and bring Bredu’s remains home for burial.
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