President John Dramani Mahama has heralded the renewal of a strategic partnership between the Government of Ghana and the international charity Mercy Ships, emphasising its crucial role in bolstering the nation’s surgical care infrastructure.

A statement issued by the Presidency said the President announced the return of the Global Mercy Ship hospital vessel to Ghana in August 2026, to offer free specialised surgeries and intensive training for local healthcare professionals.

It said the renewed agreement was confirmed following a high-level meeting at the Presidency on Thursday, September 11, between President Mahama and members of the Mercy Ships Board.

“Health is not a luxury, it is the foundation of freedom and the currency of our dignity,” President Mahama stated, adding, “I am therefore delighted to welcome Mercy Ships back to Ghana next year. This partnership is a strategic intervention that will significantly complement our government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen surgical care delivery across the country.”

The statement said during its planned field service, the Mercy Ship would dock at the Port of Tema, providing a floating surgical hospital that delivers a wide range of life-changing operations free of charge to those in need.

It said beyond direct patient care, the mission would focus heavily on advancing Ghana’s national goals for safe surgical care through comprehensive training and mentorship programmes for Ghanaian surgeons, anaesthesiologists, nurses, and other medical personnel.

Madam Dame Ann Gloag led the Mercy Ship Delegation.

Present at the meeting were Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Health Minister, and Madam Obuobia Darko-Opoku, Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund.

The August 2026 visit will mark Mercy Ship’s fifth deployment to Ghana since 1991, building on a legacy of impactful collaboration.

Previous visits have facilitated over 2,600 life-altering surgeries, 16,700 dental procedures, and the professional development of 139 Ghanaian healthcare professionals.