President Mahama Welcomes Mercy ships’ return to Ghana for Fifth Mission
President John Dramani Mahama has welcomed the return of Mercy Ships to Ghana for its fifth mission since 1991, recalling the organisation’s contribution to surgical and dental care as well as the training of Ghanaian health professionals over the years.
President Mahama in his remarks after inspecting and touring the Global Mercy hospital ship at the Tema Port on Thursday, expressed gratitude to the organisation for renewing its longstanding partnership with Ghana.
“This is not the first time you have been here, and this is not going to be the last time Mercy Ships is coming here,” the President stated.
He said the current deployment built on previous missions that had brought specialist medical services to Ghanaians who needed treatment.
According to figures cited by Government and Mercy Ships, the organisation’s previous missions in Ghana delivered more than 2,600 surgeries and 16,700 dental procedures, while supporting the development of 139 Ghanaian health professionals.
The President said the latest mission represented a continuation of that partnership and expressed appreciation to all those who had helped bring the Global Mercy to Ghana, including its donors, medical team, crew, volunteers and Ghanaian partners.
He also recognised Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams and other friends of Mercy Ships who had worked to sustain the partnership.
President Mahama said the work of Mercy Ships demonstrated the importance of humanitarian cooperation at a time when countries and individuals were increasingly focused on their own interests.
“Mercy Ships remains a floating vessel of what it is, mercy and humanism,” he stated.
The President also spoke about his first experience aboard the hospital ship, saying he had expected the vessel to feel less stable but was surprised by how steady it was.
“I have never sailed in a ship, and so when I was coming, I thought that, I mean, how is this going to be? I thought we would be walking like sailors in a ship, but I am surprised it is so stable. It is just like any hospital that I have been to,” he said.
The Global Mercy’s current field service is expected to last 10 months and will combine direct patient care with opportunities for Ghanaian health professionals to gain experience alongside the international medical team.
President Mahama expressed gratitude to Mercy Ships for returning to Ghana and said the Government looked forward to sustaining the partnership beyond the current mission.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
