Mahama Visits Mercy Ships Hospital In Ghana, Commends Free Specialist Care

President John Dramani Mahama has visited the Mercy Ships hospital at Tema Port and praised its free specialist medical services for Ghanaians. The current 10-month mission is providing surgery for conditions including cataracts, cleft lips and palates, tumours and childhood orthopaedic conditions. Mercy Ships has previously carried out more than 2,600 surgeries and 16,700 dental procedures in Ghana while supporting the professional development of 139 Ghanaian healthcare workers.

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama on Friday visited the Mercy Ships hospital, the world’s largest civilian hospital ship, currently docked at Tema Port, where he praised the organisation for providing specialised medical care to Ghanaians who have waited years for treatment.
During his visit, President Mahama toured the floating medical facility and interacted with Ghanaian patients receiving treatment on board. He also met members of the ship’s international crew and Ghanaian volunteers who are supporting the medical mission during its 10-month stay in the country.
The president expressed appreciation for the work of Mercy Ships, describing its medical intervention as an important contribution to improving access to specialist healthcare for people who might otherwise struggle to obtain complex surgical treatment.
The ship is in Ghana as part of a 10-month field service carried out in partnership with the Government of Ghana. During its stay, patients are receiving surgical care free of charge.

PATIENTS RECEIVE SPECIALISED TREATMENT

The Mercy Ships mission is providing treatment for a range of conditions that can significantly affect people's health and quality of life when left untreated.
President Mahama said the organisation's voluntary medical programme has provided life-saving and life-changing treatment to patients who had spent years waiting for access to specialist care.
Among the conditions being treated are cataracts, cleft lips and palates, tumours and childhood orthopaedic conditions, as well as other conditions requiring specialist surgical intervention.
For patients, the availability of free surgery can remove one of the major barriers to accessing treatment: the cost of specialised medical care.
Some patients who would ordinarily have had to travel long distances or raise substantial amounts of money for surgery are instead able to receive treatment aboard the hospital ship while it is stationed at Tema.

MAHAMA THANKS CREW AND GHANAIAN VOLUNTEERS

During his tour, President Mahama thanked the Mercy Ships crew and Ghanaian volunteers for their commitment to the medical mission.
The president also spoke with patients admitted to the hospital, giving him an opportunity to hear directly from people benefiting from the services being provided.
He noted that the partnership between Ghana and Mercy Ships had produced significant results over several decades and said the country remained grateful for the organisation's contribution to healthcare.
Mercy Ships has visited Ghana several times since its first deployment there in 1991. The previous missions provided thousands of surgical and dental procedures while also helping to strengthen the country's medical workforce.

THOUSANDS HAVE BENEFITED FROM PREVIOUS MISSIONS

According to President Mahama, Mercy Ships' previous visits to Ghana resulted in more than 2,600 surgeries and approximately 16,700 dental procedures.
The missions also contributed to the professional development of 139 Ghanaian health professionals, giving them opportunities to gain additional skills and experience through collaboration with medical specialists from different parts of the world.
The figures highlight that the partnership has focused not only on treating patients but also on strengthening local healthcare capacity.
Training and professional development are particularly important because the benefits can continue after the hospital ship leaves the country, as trained healthcare workers remain in Ghana and apply the knowledge and skills gained through the programme.

FIFTH MERCY SHIPS DEPLOYMENT TO GHANA

The current visit represents Mercy Ships' fifth deployment to Ghana since 1991.
Over the years, the organisation's missions have created a long-standing relationship with Ghanaian health authorities and medical professionals.
The current 10-month deployment continues that relationship by bringing specialist surgical services directly to the country while working alongside local healthcare workers and volunteers.
The presence of the ship at Tema Port also allows medical teams to treat patients in a purpose-built hospital environment without requiring them to travel abroad for specialist procedures.

PRESIDENT DIRECTS MINISTRY TO SUPPORT MEDICAL MISSION

President Mahama directed the Ministry of Health and other relevant government agencies to provide the necessary support to ensure that the Mercy Ships mission operates effectively throughout its stay.
He said government support was important in maximising the benefits of the partnership and ensuring that more Ghanaians who require specialist care could access the services available on board.
The president also used the visit to outline his government's broader plans to improve access to healthcare across Ghana.
He said the government was expanding free primary healthcare, strengthening the National Health Insurance Programme and investing in hospitals and healthcare workers.

GOVERNMENT PLANS BROADER HEALTHCARE INVESTMENT

President Mahama said the government was also using the Ghana Medical Trust Fund to help reduce the financial burden associated with serious non-communicable diseases.
Such illnesses can require long-term treatment and place considerable financial pressure on patients and their families.
The government has therefore positioned improved access to healthcare as part of a broader effort to reduce the cost of treatment and strengthen the country's health system.
While the Mercy Ships programme provides specialist interventions during its 10-month stay, government health programmes are expected to provide longer-term access to healthcare through Ghana's hospitals, insurance system and primary healthcare facilities.

PARTNERSHIP BRINGS SPECIALIST CARE CLOSER TO PATIENTS

The Mercy Ships mission demonstrates how international medical partnerships can complement a country's existing healthcare system by providing specialist services while also supporting local professionals.
For patients receiving treatment, the impact is immediate, particularly for those who have lived for years with conditions that affect their ability to work, attend school or carry out everyday activities.
For Ghanaian healthcare workers, the mission provides opportunities to work alongside international medical teams and gain experience in specialist procedures.
As the hospital ship continues its 10-month stay at Tema Port, the focus will remain on treating patients, supporting Ghanaian health professionals and extending the benefits of the partnership to communities in need of specialist medical care.