The Ghanaian movie industry has been thrown into total shock when the death of veteran actor, Nii Odoi Mensah was announced late yesterday as a result of kidney failure.
The veteran actor, Nii Odoi Mensah
Popular veteran actor and former President of the Ghana Actors Guild, Nii Odoi Mensah, has passed away in China where he had undergone a kidney transplant which became necessary after doctors declared his two kidneys as incapable of functioning well enough to keep him alive.
The transplant was said to have been made possible through popular actress, Juliet Ibrahim's foundation. Sadly, the veteran could not come back to show appreciation to those who supported him.
Nii Odoi Mensah announced in January last year that he was suffering from chronic kidney failure and he needed to spend about $300 each week for dialysis treatment, and while receiving a donation from actress Juliet Ibrahim, he disclosed that 'I’m a chronic kidney patient,' and called for public support to get medical treatment.
The late actor and Juliet Ibrahim
Juliet Ibrahim, who posted the video of the actor's plea on her Instagram page, last year, added the caption: "My last donation to veteran actor Nii Odoi Mensah who is now a chronic kidney failure patient. He is in need of your help he has lost both kidneys. He has been going through this all alone till he realized he alone can’t pay his hospital bills which cost per dialysis 100 usd 3 times a week for the rest of his life."
Speaking to KMJ on Hitz FM’s Daybreak Hitz, Ghanaian film producer, Socrate Safo said Nii Odoi was living on dialysis in Ghana but went to China upon hearing of a hospital which could treat him.
"I spoke to Nii almost every day except yesterday because I had lots of meetings…Before he went to China, he told me he had heard of a hospital there which could treat him and they needed about $10,000. We all did our part by contributing but when he got there, he realised he would need more than the said amount because he needed more treatment.
"I remember he called to request for about $26,000. We solicited for support and all that. Three days ago, we had a conversation and I told him I will update him on certain things I had to do for him. I couldn’t call. I woke up today, checked ASOG board platform and Abeiku Sagoe had posted there that he had passed on. I called Nii, he didn’t answer so I sent him a message hoping he responds. And I pray he responds," Socrate Safo added.
May his soul rest in peace.