Family seeks gov’t help to bring home Ghanaian woman who died in China

By: Hubeyidatu Mumuni 

The family of 24-year-old Mercy Yaaba Bredu, a Ghanaian student who died in China barely two days after travelling there to pursue a master’s degree, is appealing to the government for assistance to repatriate her remains.

Bredu, a former first-class student of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), travelled to China on Monday, August 24, after securing a scholarship to further her education.

According to her family, she was in good health when they accompanied her to the airport and showed no signs of illness before her departure.

Her elder sister, Maame Yaaba, said the family was informed that Bredu had collapsed at an airport in China and was subsequently rushed to a hospital for medical attention.

She was pronounced dead on Wednesday, August 26, leaving her family and former colleagues devastated by the sudden loss.

“We are therefore calling on the government and the relevant authorities to help us bring her body back home for burial,” Maame Yaaba said.

“Please, we need your help,” she added.

The family is now appealing to the government, Ghana’s diplomatic representatives in China and other relevant institutions to intervene and assist with the processes required to bring Bredu’s remains back to Ghana.

Recounting events leading to her departure, Maame Yaaba said Bredu 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 returning home, Bredu reportedly informed her family about an opportunity to pursue further studies outside Ghana.

“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 subsequently sought the family’s support to enable her embark on the journey to China.

“She asked us to support her so she could embark on her journey,” Maame Yaaba said.

The family then accompanied her to the airport on Monday ahead of her flight, which took off at about 1:30 p.m.

“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.”

Maame Yaaba said Bredu also contacted the family after her flight took off, giving them assurance that her journey had started safely.

However, concerns arose the following day when she failed to respond to calls from her relatives.

“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 treatment.

“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,” Maame Yaaba said.

Despite efforts to save her, Bredu died on Wednesday, August 26.

Her death has shocked her family, friends and former classmates, particularly because she was reportedly healthy before leaving Ghana and had completed the necessary medical checks before travelling.

Bredu was a former Vice President of the Association of Students of English (ASSENS) at UEW during the 2024/25 academic year.

Her family is therefore making an urgent appeal for support to ensure her remains are brought back to Ghana for burial and to enable them give her a befitting final farewell.