In a touching moment, Grace Akweley, the mother of the young girl with end-stage kidney failure, fell to her knees in gratitude as she welcomed Rafik Mahama, the special aide to business mogul Ibrahim Mahama, into their home.

The visit marks a significant step in Rosemary Boadu’s journey to recovery as she prepares for her pre-transplant workup scheduled for Thursday, November 22, 2024. 

Rosemary, who has been battling end-stage kidney failure, will undergo a kidney transplant funded by Mr Ibrahim Mahama, CEO of Engineers & Planners and Dzata Cement. Mr Mahama fully paid for the $25,000 required for the surgery after hearing Rosemary’s story through a JoyNews feature titled “Dialysis at 13” produced by Emmanuel Dzivenu.

As part of the visit, Rafik Mahama presented GHS20,000 to Rosemary and her family to support their upkeep ahead of the medical procedure. Speaking during the visit, he explained Mr Mahama’s motivation for stepping in to help. 

“Rosemary’s story deeply touched my boss’ heart. The very morning he saw the feature, he instructed us to make the payment immediately because he couldn’t bear to see the young girl in pain. By 9 a.m., the transaction was completed. Today, I’m here to ensure that the family is ready for the journey ahead. Rosemary is now part of our family, and we pray for her full recovery so she can return to school stronger than ever,” Rafik Mahama said. 

He added, "As part of our morning briefing, my boss, Ibrahim Mahama, emphasized the importance of me visiting the family before we begin the process next week. He wanted me to check on them and ensure everything was fine before they left for the hospital. That’s why I came here this morning—to see the family and meet my daughter. I’m very happy to see them."

"I also want to say that this is something we do all the time. Most of the time, we handle larger health issues quietly, flying people outside the country to seek healthcare. It’s usually only when the media reports on these cases that our interventions become public. We engage in a lot of philanthropic work across various sectors."

Rosemary, visibly emotional, expressed her heartfelt appreciation for the support. 

“I never thought something like this could happen to me. God bless Mr Ibrahim Mahama and everyone who has supported me. Wherever you took the money from, God will refill it a hundred times. I am so grateful.”

Her mother, Grace Akweley, echoed her gratitude, calling the intervention a miracle that will save her daughter’s life. 

"I am forever indebted to Mr Ibrahim Mahama. He has done more than just help us - he has given my daughter a chance to live. May God richly bless him and everyone who stood by us."

With the pre-transplant evaluations set to begin this week, the family is optimistic about the journey ahead, buoyed by the support of kind-hearted individuals like Ibrahim Mahama.