The Global Mercy, the world’s largest civilian hospital ship, has arrived at the Port of Tema for its fifth field service in Ghana, beginning a ten-month programme of free surgeries and healthcare training.
The ship’s arrival was marked by a welcome ceremony attended by government officials, diplomats, healthcare leaders and members of the international crew.
Get more exclusive breaking news updates on our WhatsApp channel .
Over the ten-month field service, volunteer medical teams are expected to perform between 1,950 and 2,600 free surgeries for Ghanaians. An estimated 100 to 250 local healthcare professionals are also expected to benefit from mentoring, education and clinical placements aboard the ship.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, described the initiative as part of a partnership between Ghana and Mercy Ships that has lasted more than 30 years. He said the current visit is the first since the two sides reaffirmed their collaboration in 2025.
Mr. Akandoh said the programme complements Ghana’s National Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia Plan (NSOAP), launched in 2024 to expand access to safe and equitable surgical care nationwide.
He stressed that the arrival of the Global Mercy should be viewed as a collaborative effort to support and accelerate Ghana’s national healthcare priorities, adding that its lasting impact on patients, healthcare workers and institutions would be an important measure of success.
The Minister also highlighted the role of the HOPE Center, which provides support to patients before and after surgery while creating opportunities for Ghanaian healthcare professionals to work alongside international volunteers.
He thanked the ministries, agencies, security services and health institutions involved in preparations for the ship’s arrival.
Mercy Ships CEO, Dr. Michelle White, said the return to Tema was particularly symbolic because the organisation’s first hospital ship, the Anastasis, docked there more than 30 years ago.
She said Mercy Ships has trained close to 3,000 Ghanaian healthcare professionals and delivered more than 2,500 surgical procedures in Ghana since 1991. The organisation also supported the Ghana Surgical Dialogue held last year, which brought together national and international leaders on surgical, obstetric and anaesthesia care.
Dr. White said Mercy Ships would work closely 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, to align the field service with Ghana’s national priorities and provide postgraduate training placements aboard the ship.
The Minister for Transport, Hon. Joseph Bukari Nikpe, welcomed the Global Mercy on behalf of the transport sector and described Ghana’s ports as a gateway to the wider West African sub-region, including Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
He pledged the full support of port authorities to ensure smooth operations throughout the ship’s stay and wished the crew a safe and successful field service.
Since 1990, Mercy Ships has completed 47 field services across 14 African countries and delivered more than 128,800 surgical procedures worldwide. The organisation says its focus has increasingly shifted from direct humanitarian response towards long-term health system strengthening through partnership, education and locally led capacity building.
