A Floating Hospital of Mercy: President Mahama Lauds Global Mercy Mission
President John Dramani Mahama has commended Mercy Ships for sustaining its humanitarian mission of providing specialist medical care to people in need, describing the Global Mercy as a vessel that represents mercy and humanism.
He said the organisation’s work had become even more important at a time when countries and individuals were increasingly becoming focused on their own interests, with international support for humanitarian causes facing new challenges.
President Mahama made the remarks when he inspected and toured the hospital facilities aboard the Global Mercy on Thursday at the Tema Port.
“I believe that in this world where countries are becoming more selfish, people are becoming more selfish, it is about us,” the President stated.
He said countries were increasingly adopting unilateral approaches while people were becoming less willing to support charitable causes, but Mercy Ships had continued to provide an example of humanitarian service through its medical missions.
“Mercy Ships remains a floating vessel of what it is, mercy and humanism,” he said.
President Mahama said the organisation’s work was making a direct difference in the lives of patients, particularly children who had received life-changing surgeries aboard the vessel.
During his tour of the orthopedic section, the President viewed photographs of children before their surgeries and reflected on the changes the procedures could bring to their lives.
He said children who had lived with conditions such as curved legs or clubfoot and had faced ridicule from their peers could return home with renewed confidence and participate in activities alongside other children.
“Just imagine the confidence that it gives him back to learn, study, play and recognise his full potential,” he stated.
President Mahama also spoke about the impact of the surgeries on patients’ families, particularly mothers who had witnessed the transformation in the lives of their children.
He expressed gratitude to Dame Anne Gloag and all those who had worked to bring the Global Mercy to Ghana, noting that the process involved several conditions that had to be addressed before the vessel could arrive.
He said the current mission, which is expected to remain in Ghana for 10 months, would provide specialist care to patients while also creating opportunities for Ghanaian health professionals to work alongside the international medical team.
He said Ghana’s partnership with Mercy Ships would continue, noting that the organisation had previously served the country and that its current mission would not be its last.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
