Mahama Commends Mercy Ships for Transforming Lives Through Specialist Care

President John Dramani Mahama has commended Mercy Ships for providing life-changing specialist medical care to Ghanaians who have waited years for treatment.

The President made the commendation on Thursday when he toured the Mercy Ships hospital currently docked at the Tema Port as part of its 10-month mission in Ghana.

President Mahama interacted with Ghanaian patients receiving treatment on board and expressed appreciation to the medical crew and Ghanaian volunteers for their service.

He said Mercy Ships had made a significant contribution to Ghana’s healthcare delivery through specialised surgeries, dental procedures and training for local health professionals.

“Mercy Ships has served Ghana on four previous visits since 1991. Those missions delivered more than 2,600 surgeries and 16,700 dental procedures and supported the development of 139 Ghanaian health professionals. We remember that past service with gratitude,” he said.

The President noted that the organisation’s interventions had brought relief to patients who had struggled to access specialist care, including those requiring treatment for cataracts, cleft lips and palates, tumours and childhood orthopaedic conditions.

He described the medical support as an important complement to the government’s efforts to improve access to quality healthcare.

President Mahama urged the Ministry of Health and other relevant agencies to provide the necessary support to enable Mercy Ships to maximise its services during its stay in Ghana.

He said the government remained committed to expanding access to healthcare through investments in primary care, health facilities and medical personnel.

“Our government is expanding free primary health care, strengthening the National Health Insurance Programme and investing in hospitals and health workers,” he said.

He added that the Ghana Medical Trust Fund was also being used to reduce the financial burden of serious non-communicable diseases on families.

The President’s visit underscored the role of partnerships between government and international medical organisations in expanding access to specialised healthcare and supporting the development of Ghana’s health workforce.