Ghanaian in Germany Shares Struggles with Illness, Surgery, and Caring for Family Back Home
Mathew, a Ghanaian resident in Germany and a regular guest on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide show hosted by DJ Nyaami, has opened up about the severe health challenges he has faced since relocating to Europe, and how they have impacted both his life and his family back home in Ghana.
During a heartfelt interview, Mathew revealed that upon arriving in Germany, it only took three months for his health to deteriorate. In Ghana, he had frequently relied on painkillers and alcohol to manage his discomfort, unaware of the damage being done to his liver due to lack of medical check-ups. It wasn’t until he arrived in Germany and suffered a work-related injury that serious underlying health issues were discovered.
“I was carrying concrete at a construction site when I collapsed. My abdomen tore open and my intestines were exposed. That’s when doctors found out I had hepatitis, which had severely damaged my liver,” Mathew explained. “They told me I was lucky to be alive.”
Due to the severity of his condition, Mathew was granted residence in Germany. At one point, immigration authorities considered deporting him back to Ghana with €2,500, but he appealed, stating that returning home would be a death sentence due to the lack of adequate healthcare. With the help of a lawyer and further medical evaluations, Mathew was transferred to another town in Germany to receive continued treatment.
To date, he has undergone 25 surgeries, including procedures related to liver complications. Despite all the pain, he is still alive—something he considers a miracle, especially after witnessing others die while waiting for liver transplants.
Mathew has a family of five children in Ghana. His eldest son is 21 years old and currently in his third year at the university. The second child is 19, followed by a 16-year-old, and the youngest is just 8 years old. The last-born was added to the family after Mathew had already traveled abroad, and he had never seen him in person until recently. His wife is currently pursuing training as a nursing assistant, while his mother-in-law helps take care of the children back home.
Raising children in Ghana while living abroad under such circumstances has been extremely difficult.
“When your children are not with you abroad, the government does not consider them in support schemes,” he shared. “I’ve had to borrow money from friends just to pay school fees and send basic support.”
The family recently calculated school-related expenses, and it amounted to over GH₵8,200. His eldest son has started doing part-time work to support himself and his siblings. One of the children has an interest in fashion and hopes to pursue a diploma program to advance in that field.
Now jobless and still recovering from extensive surgeries, Mathew is calling on SVTV Africa fans and kind-hearted Ghanaians around the world to support him and his family. He expressed gratitude for the platform and shared a contact number where those interested can reach out or send support via mobile money.
In closing, Mathew had a message for the youth: “Take your health seriously. Stop abusing fast foods, Maggi, and instant noodles like Indomie. At one point, I felt it would be easier to die than to live with the pain. It took four years to find a liver donor. Please take care of your body.”
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