Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has awarded a full scholarship scheme to three children who lost their dad at the May 9 stadium disaster 11 years ago.
The award was facilitated by former chairman of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Herbert Mensah who had taken the mother and her three children to the Asantehene¹s Palace on his 62nd birthday to climax the 11th anniversary of the May 9 disaster.
Maame Bisi whose husband died in the disaster when she was pregnant with her third child was full of praise to the Asantehene for the kind gesture.
According to her, after the death of her husband, life has been difficult but for the benevolence of well wishers.
An emotionally drenched Maame Bisi could not put her joy into words and could only sigh when asked how she felt by the kind gesture from the Otumfuo.
She recounted in an interview with Xfm the circumstances surrounding the husband¹s death and how life has been treating her and the children since.
³I was pregnant with my third child at the hospital when he died. After his death, one of his friends gave me some money to start some business to cater for me and the children?
As for the family of my husband, the least said about them the better? they accuse me of killing my own husband; how could I have? So they never took care of even the kids up until now².
She says her plight has been aggravated when she had her kente shop burgled recently.
Even though the government has been supportive, Maame Bisi said that has not been enough to cater for the children¹s education.
³I had 400 cedis at the time of the disaster during the NPP¹s administration. Each year, I receive about 100 cedis from the government to support my kid¹s education but that amount is very inadequate. I know some beneficiaries do not even receive this money at all².
³My eldest child is at age 20; she just completed Senior High School; when she completed, I couldn¹t send her to school because I had no money. She had to stay home for a couple of years until I could raise enough money for her to go back to school².
Even though life has dealt her a hard blow, Maame Bisi has not despaired. Her difficult task was however, breaking the news surrounding the father¹s death to her third son.
³Some kids in my son¹s school used to make fun of him that he got no father since it is only his mum who attends his PTA; so I had to break the news to him, that yes, his dad died. He felt so bad upon hearing the news, but I could not hide it away from him any longer².
She recalled fond memories of the help she continues to receive from the former Kotoko boss and called on the government not to relent in supporting family members of the victims.
³Herbert Mensah helped me throughout my pregnancy till I delivered. Each year, he comes around to help us. When he was still a part of Kotoko, he helped me financially anytime Kotoko played a match².
³I will call on the authorities to help Mr Herbert Mensah in his effort to support us. He has been so helpful to us; he is not necessitated to cater for us as the former Kotoko boss; he does it because he wants to help, and he needs to be supported².
³Alhaji Hearts has also been helpful and I ask God¹s blessings on them all².
