The Global Mercy, the world’s largest civilian hospital ship, has arrived at the Port of Tema to begin a 10-month medical mission that will provide free surgeries and dental treatment to thousands of Ghanaians.
The arrival marks the fifth field service by Mercy Ships in Ghana and was welcomed at a ceremony attended by government officials, diplomats, healthcare professionals and members of the international volunteer crew.
During its stay, volunteer medical teams are expected to perform between 1,950 and 2,600 free surgeries, while an estimated 1,610 to 2,145 people will receive free dental treatment.
The mission will also provide training opportunities for between 100 and 250 Ghanaian healthcare professionals through mentoring, education and clinical placements aboard the vessel.
Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh described the initiative as a continuation of Ghana’s longstanding partnership with Mercy Ships, which dates back more than three decades.
He said the programme complements Ghana’s National Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia Plan (NSOAP), launched in 2024 to improve access to safe and equitable surgical care across the country.
The Minister stressed that the Global Mercy’s visit should be viewed not simply as a humanitarian intervention but as a partnership supporting Ghana’s own healthcare priorities.
He said the lasting impact of the mission would be measured not only by the number of surgeries performed but also by its contribution to patients, healthcare professionals and local health institutions after the ship leaves Ghana.
A key component of the mission will be 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.
Mercy Ships CEO, Dr Michelle White, said returning to Tema carried special significance because the organisation’s first hospital ship, Anastasis, docked at the port more than 30 years ago.
She disclosed that Mercy Ships has trained nearly 3,000 Ghanaian healthcare professionals and performed more than 2,500 surgical procedures in Ghana since 1991.
The organisation also plans to work with the Ministry of Health, universities and professional institutions, including the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Ghana College of Nursing and Midwifery, to provide postgraduate training opportunities aboard the vessel.
Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe also welcomed the Global Mercy, assuring the crew of the full support of Ghana’s port authorities throughout its stay.
He described Ghana’s ports as an important gateway to the wider West African sub-region and wished the medical team a successful mission.
Since 1990, Mercy Ships says it has completed 47 field services across 14 African countries and delivered more than 128,800 surgical procedures worldwide.
The organisation says its work has increasingly shifted from emergency humanitarian interventions towards long-term healthcare system strengthening through training, partnerships and locally led capacity development.
