The “Global Mercy” has arrived in the port of Tema in Ghana. Free operations are to be offered on board the world’s largest hospital ship for ten months.
Following its most recent mission in Sierra Leone and its scheduled annual maintenance, the “Global Mercy” has now arrived for its next mission. Mercy Ships is working with the Government of Ghana to facilitate the treatment. “Health is not a luxury, but the foundation of freedom,” said Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama as he welcomed the ship. “It is the currency of our dignity. It is our most important public good; I am therefore delighted to welcome Mercy Ships to Ghana.”
Although Ghana has one of the most effective healthcare systems in West Africa – bolstered by the ambitious National Plan for Surgery, Obstetrics and Anaesthesia (NSOAP) – millions of people continue to face barriers to accessing timely, safe and affordable surgical care. According to Mercy Ships, surgical specialists remain unevenly distributed, and district hospitals are struggling with capacity constraints. This means that many patients are forced to live with easily treatable conditions because they are denied access to surgical procedures.
“The development of this plan (NSOAP) is in line with our overarching goals for the health sector,” said Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Ghana’s Minister of Health. “It ensures that essential surgical, obstetric and anaesthetic services are integrated into Ghana’s universal health coverage strategy. This is an important step towards reducing maternal and child mortality, providing effective treatment for trauma cases, and strengthening emergency and intensive care medicine across the country.”
Fifth mission in Ghana
This is Mercy Ships’ fifth mission in Ghana. The ‘Global Mercy’ mission not only provides free surgical procedures but also combines them with training, further education, mentoring and the development of local healthcare professionals. Patients from across Ghana were invited to apply for specialist procedures – including operations for cleft lip and palate, tumour removals, cataract operations, plastic and reconstructive surgery, treatment of obstetric fistulas, paediatric orthopaedic surgery and general surgical procedures.
“Our return to Ghana marks the continuation of a partnership built on trust,” said Michael Nkeze, Mercy Ships’ Country Director for Ghana. “Together with the Ministry of Health and our national partners, we are investing not only in life-changing operations for today’s patients, but also in more effective surgical systems that will benefit future generations.”
Since first arriving in Ghana in 1991, Mercy Ships has worked closely with the country’s government. Together, they have carried out more than 2,670 surgical procedures and over 18,120 dental treatments, trained more than 2,920 healthcare professionals and provided direct medical care to almost 15,000 people.
The Mercy Ships crew consists of volunteer professionals from more than 70 countries, including surgeons, nurses, anaesthetists, technicians, teachers, cooks and seafarers. Ghanaian volunteers also play a crucial role in the crew – just as they did in the organisation’s early days; some of them have been part of it for a long time.
Among these volunteers is the hospital chaplain “Mama“ Clementine, one of Mercy Ships’ longest-serving staff members. She first came into contact with the organisation in the 1990s and joined the crew in 1997. With her roots in Ghana and Togo, she was inspired by volunteers from all over the world who had dedicated their lives to helping her people.
“Mercy Ships captured my heart almost 30 years ago,” says Clementine. “Seeing people from all over the world come together to serve Africa inspired me to dedicate my own life to this mission. Today, returning to Ghana feels like coming home. It is a privilege to serve my own people and to welcome every patient with dignity, compassion and hope. When people who once felt forgotten or abandoned leave knowing that they are loved, accepted, respected and valued – that is where I find the deep meaning of my work.”
“Africa Mercy” off the coast of Madagascar
The “Global Mercy”, which is 174 m long and 28.6 m wide, was built in China. The 37,000-tonne vessel cost over $200 million. It is considered the largest ship in the world ever built specifically as a hospital ship.
The organisation’s second hospital ship, the 152-metre-long “Africa Mercy”, is currently anchored off Madagascar for the sixth time. Mercy Ships acquired the ship – originally built in 1980 as the railway ferry “Dronning Ingrid” – in 1999 through donations and had it converted. The organisation is also planning to build a third hospital ship modelled on the ‘Global Mercy’. It is to be built in collaboration with MSC and the MSC Foundation.
