Former Ghana-born German international footballer Gerald Asamoah has once again proven that true legends go beyond the pitch.
The former Schalke 04 and Germany national team forward has brought a team of German heart specialists to Ghana to perform free life-saving heart surgeries for 25 children suffering from congenital heart defects — commonly known as “holes in the heart.”
The humanitarian initiative, which forms part of the Gerald Asamoah Foundation for Children with Heart Disease, reflects the ex-footballer’s deep commitment to giving back to his roots and using his platform to save lives. Asamoah, who himself was diagnosed with a heart condition at a young age, has made it his life’s mission to ensure that no child suffers or dies simply because they cannot afford surgery.
The medical outreach, being carried out in collaboration with the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital’s National Cardiothoracic Centre, brings together a team of highly skilled cardiologists, surgeons, and nurses from Germany who have volunteered their time and expertise. The project covers the full cost of surgery, post-operative care, and medications, ensuring that beneficiaries — mostly children from low-income families — receive world-class treatment at no cost.
Speaking during the team’s arrival in Accra, Gerald Asamoah expressed heartfelt gratitude to the doctors and sponsors who made the mission possible.
“This project is very personal to me. I know what it means to live with a heart condition. Some of these children have been waiting for years because their families simply can’t afford the surgery. We are here to give them hope and a second chance at life,” Asamoah said.
Since its inception, the Gerald Asamoah Foundation has supported dozens of children across Ghana and Germany, bridging access gaps in pediatric heart care. The foundation has previously organized similar missions, performing surgeries for children at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and other facilities, often in partnership with German hospitals and charities.
The current mission will see the team operate on children aged between 6 months and 12 years, many of whom were identified through pediatric outreach programs run by local hospitals and NGOs.
Medical experts estimate that more than 7,000 Ghanaian children are born each year with heart defects, yet only a fraction are able to access the specialized care they need due to cost and limited capacity. The National Cardiothoracic Centre, Ghana’s leading facility for such surgeries, continues to appeal for greater support from individuals and organizations to help save more lives.
Parents of beneficiaries could not hold back their emotions as they expressed profound appreciation to Asamoah and his team. One mother tearfully shared,
“I thought my child would never get the chance to live a normal life. God bless Gerald Asamoah for remembering us.”
Asamoah’s journey from a young boy born in Mampong, Ghana, to a German football star and humanitarian, remains a story of resilience, compassion, and purpose. Through his foundation, he continues to use his global network to bring hope to families who once faced despair.
This latest medical mission reinforces the former footballer’s legacy — not just as an athlete who made history in European football, but as a man whose heart continues to beat for Ghana’s children.
