The Global Mercy, the world’s largest civilian hospital ship, has arrived at the Port of Tema for its fifth field service in Ghana, bringing free surgical and dental care to thousands of Ghanaians.
The arrival of the medical vessel was marked by a welcome ceremony attended by government officials, diplomats, healthcare professionals and members of the international volunteer crew.
Over the next 10 months, Mercy Ships’ volunteer medical teams are expected to perform between 1,950 and 2,600 free surgeries and provide approximately 1,610 to 2,145 dental treatments for patients in Ghana.
Global Mercy to Train Ghanaian Healthcare Professionals
Beyond providing free medical treatment, the Global Mercy field service will support healthcare capacity building in Ghana.
An estimated 100 to 250 Ghanaian healthcare professionals are expected to benefit from mentoring, clinical placements and specialised medical education aboard the hospital ship.
Speaking at the welcome ceremony, Minister for Health Kwabena Mintah Akandoh described the Global Mercy mission as part of a longstanding healthcare partnership between Ghana and Mercy Ships that dates back more than three decades.
He noted that the latest mission is the first since Ghana and Mercy Ships renewed their partnership in 2025 and said the initiative supports the country’s National Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia Plan (NSOAP), launched in 2024 to improve access to safe and equitable surgical care.
The Health Minister stressed that the Global Mercy’s presence should be viewed as a collaborative effort supporting Ghana’s healthcare priorities rather than an isolated humanitarian intervention.
He said the long-term success of the programme would ultimately be measured by its impact on patients, healthcare professionals and health institutions even after the hospital ship leaves Ghana.
HOPE Center to Support Patients
The Minister also highlighted the importance of the HOPE Center, which provides support to patients before and after surgery while creating opportunities for Ghanaian healthcare professionals to work alongside international medical volunteers.
He expressed appreciation to government ministries, agencies, security services and healthcare institutions involved in preparations for the Global Mercy’s arrival.
Mercy Ships Marks Return to Tema
Mercy Ships CEO Dr Michelle White said the Global Mercy’s arrival in Tema carries significant historical importance because the organisation’s first hospital ship, the Anastasis, docked at the same port more than 30 years ago.
Since 1991, Mercy Ships says it has trained nearly 3,000 Ghanaian healthcare professionals and provided more than 2,500 surgical procedures in the country.
The organisation also supported the Ghana Surgical Dialogue in 2025, bringing together local and international experts to discuss surgical, obstetric and anaesthesia care.
Dr White said Mercy Ships will continue working with the Ministry of Health, universities and healthcare institutions, including the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Ghana College of Nursing and Midwifery.
The collaboration will also provide opportunities for postgraduate training placements aboard the Global Mercy while ensuring that the field service remains aligned with Ghana’s national healthcare objectives.
Ghana Ports Pledge Support for Global Mercy
Minister for Transport Joseph Bukari Nikpe, who welcomed the hospital ship on behalf of the transport sector, described Ghana’s ports as an important gateway to the wider West African sub-region.
He noted the strategic role of Ghana’s ports in serving neighbouring landlocked countries, including Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
The Transport Minister pledged the support of port authorities to ensure smooth operations throughout the Global Mercy’s stay in Tema and wished the medical crew a successful field service.
Mercy Ships Expands Healthcare Support Across Africa
Since 1990, Mercy Ships has undertaken 47 field services across 14 African countries and delivered more than 128,800 surgical procedures worldwide.
The organisation says its approach has increasingly shifted from providing immediate humanitarian medical assistance to strengthening healthcare systems for the long term.
Through partnerships, professional education and locally driven capacity building, Mercy Ships aims to help countries develop sustainable healthcare services.
The organisation says this approach closely complements Ghana’s National Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia Plan and could contribute to improving access to quality surgical care across the country.
Source: newsthemegh.com