On Thursday, President John Dramani Mahama officially welcomed the Global Mercy Hospital Ships back to Ghana at the Tema Port. The ships arrived on August 18, 2026, for a 10-month field service in partnership with the Government of Ghana. The world's largest multi-purpose-built civilian hospital ships will offer free surgical care on board. This visit marks Mercy Ship's fifth deployment to Ghana since 1991.
The Global Mercy Hospital Ships will provide free surgeries and work closely with national partners to strengthen Ghana's surgical and anaesthetic systems. Previous visits have facilitated over 2,600 life-altering surgeries, 16,700 dental procedures, and the professional development of 139 Ghanaian healthcare professionals. President Mahama expressed gratitude to the crew for returning to Ghana to provide free life-changing surgeries and medical care to Ghanaians.
During his official visit and tour of the Global Mercy Hospital Ships, President Mahama recounted emotional stories of patients who had undergone correctional surgeries. He noted that some patients, mostly children, had faced stigma and discrimination due to their deformities. However, the success of surgeries gave them hope, confidence, and joy. President Mahama thanked the facility and its crew for their generosity and humanism.
President Mahama urged all partners in the collaborative effort to make the visit count in the lives of patients and in strengthening Ghana's health systems. He thanked the donors, medical team, crew, volunteers, and Ghanaian partners for their generosity. The President noted that a patient who needed surgery would not have to give up because treatment was too far away or beyond their family's means.
The free care being offered on board the Mercy Ships will make a difference to patients and the people who care for them. President Mahama thanked Madam Dame Ann Gloag, the Lifetime Director of Mercy Ships International, and other officials for facilitating the visit. He acknowledged that the Mercy Ships had served Ghana on four previous visits, delivering over 2,600 surgeries and 16,700 dental procedures.
President Mahama noted that this deployment gave them the opportunity to reach patients who had waited for specialist care. The services include operations for cataracts, cleft lips and palates, tumours, childhood orthopedic conditions, and other treatable conditions. He wished patients safe treatment and a good recovery, emphasizing that the value of this visit must extend beyond the surgeries performed.
President Mahama pledged the government's continuous support to facilitate the work of the medical team on board the Mercy Ships. Madam Dame Ann Gloag expressed gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama for his support in bringing the Mercy Ships Mission back to Ghana. The President also emphasized the need for the responsible ministries and agencies to work together to promptly facilitate and handle patient movement, medical supplies, and other operational arrangements.
Key points
- President John Dramani Mahama welcomes Global Mercy Hospital Ships to Ghana for free life-changing surgeries and medical care.
- The Global Mercy Hospital Ships will provide free surgeries and work closely with national partners to strengthen Ghana's surgical and anaesthetic systems.
- This visit marks Mercy Ship's fifth deployment to Ghana since 1991, building on a legacy of impactful collaboration.
