Ghana’s healthcare system is set to benefit from a major medical intervention as the Global Mercy, the world’s largest civilian hospital ship, begins a 10-month field service at the Port of Tema.
The vessel’s arrival marks the fifth time Mercy Ships has undertaken a field service in Ghana, renewing a partnership with the country that dates back more than three decades.
During the mission, volunteer medical teams are expected to undertake between 1,950 and 2,600 surgeries at no cost to beneficiaries.
The programme will also provide between 1,610 and 2,145 dental treatments, while up to 250 Ghanaian healthcare professionals are expected to receive training through mentoring, education and clinical placements on board the ship.
The Global Mercy was formally welcomed at a ceremony in Tema attended by government representatives, diplomats, healthcare professionals and members of its international crew.
Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh said the renewed Mercy Ships partnership comes at an important time for Ghana as the country works to expand access to quality surgical care.
He said the programme supports the objectives of the National Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia Plan (NSOAP), introduced by government in 2024 to improve access to safe and equitable surgical services across the country.
Mr Akandoh cautioned against viewing the ship’s mission simply as a temporary humanitarian intervention.
Rather, he said, its contribution should be assessed by the lasting benefits it leaves within Ghana’s health system, including improved skills among healthcare workers and stronger institutions.
The Minister also pointed to the HOPE Center as an important component of the programme.
The centre provides support to patients before and after surgery while creating opportunities for Ghanaian healthcare professionals to gain practical experience working alongside international medical volunteers.
Mr Akandoh expressed appreciation to the ministries, public agencies, security services and healthcare institutions that contributed to preparations for the Global Mercy’s arrival.
For Mercy Ships, the return to Tema also carries historical significance.
The organisation’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Michelle White, recalled that its first hospital ship, Anastasis, docked in Tema more than 30 years ago.
Since beginning operations in Ghana in 1991, Mercy Ships has trained close to 3,000 Ghanaian healthcare professionals and delivered more than 2,500 surgical procedures in the country.
The organisation also contributed to last year’s Ghana Surgical Dialogue, which brought together local and international stakeholders to deliberate on surgical, obstetric and anaesthesia care.
Dr White said the current operation would go beyond the delivery of medical procedures.
Mercy Ships will collaborate with the Ministry of Health, universities and professional institutions to ensure that its activities support Ghana’s health priorities.
The Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Ghana College of Nursing and Midwifery are among the institutions expected to participate, with postgraduate training placements also planned aboard the vessel.
Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe said the government was committed to ensuring that the Global Mercy’s operations at Tema Port proceed smoothly.
He described Ghana’s ports as a gateway to the wider West African sub-region, including landlocked countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
He assured the crew of the full support of the relevant port authorities throughout the ship’s stay.
The latest mission forms part of Mercy Ships’ broader operations in Africa. Since 1990, the organisation has conducted 47 field services in 14 African countries and carried out more than 128,800 surgical procedures globally.
Mercy Ships says its model has evolved from providing direct medical assistance to supporting longer-term health system development through training, partnerships and locally led capacity building.
The organisation says that approach aligns with Ghana’s efforts under the National Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia Plan to build a more sustainable and accessible surgical healthcare system.
