Ghanaian businessman and philanthropist Ibrahim Mahama has funded the full estimated cost of $15,000 for the overseas medical treatment of 14-year-old Hadeya Mohammed, a student of Ghana Senior High School (GHANASCO), who has been diagnosed with a rare and complex brain tumor.
Hadeya is battling bilateral vestibular schwannoma, a serious neurological condition affecting both sides of the brain. Medical experts indicate that the condition requires advanced neurosurgical intervention, particularly following an earlier procedure conducted in Ghana.
She has been referred to the Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) in Bengaluru, India, where specialists have recommended further radiological and blood investigations ahead of a possible skull base tumor excision.
The procedure may also involve embolization and will be supported by a multidisciplinary team, including neurosurgeons and interventional neurologists.
According to cost estimates from KIMS, initial investigations are expected to cost between $600 and $800, while the surgical procedure ranges from $9,200 to $10,000 among others.
Additional accommodation and living expenses are projected to bring the minimum total cost to approximately $15,000.
The surgery will be led by senior neurosurgical consultant Raghuram Gopalakrishna, who noted that the final treatment plan will be determined after a comprehensive evaluation upon the patient’s admission.
Hospital authorities indicate that Hadeya may spend up to two months in India for treatment and recovery, although her hospital stay following surgery is expected to last between three and five days.
Mr. Mahama’s intervention is expected to fully cover the medical expenses, significantly easing the financial burden on the family and ensuring that the young student receives timely and specialized care.
The case has once again highlighted the challenges faced by patients in Ghana who require advanced medical treatment abroad, as well as the growing role of private philanthropy in bridging critical gaps in healthcare access.
