Mercy Ships to train Ghanaian Health Specialists under 10-month mission – Mintah Akandoh

Ghana's Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, announced that the country will benefit from Mercy Ships' 10-month mission aimed at enhancing specialist healthcare by training, sharing knowledge, and developing skills among Ghanaian health professionals. This partnership, backed by a host agreement and coordination among the Ministries of Health, Finance, and Foreign Affairs, allows Ghana to reap long-term advantages from the Global Mercy's presence.

Speaking at President John Dramani Mahama's inspection of the hospital ship in Tema Harbour, Akandoh noted that his government has been collaborating with Mercy Ships since September 2025 when their delegation led by Dame Anne Gloag met the President. Following the President's orders, the relevant ministries facilitated the mission, including signing the host agreement, handling credentials, and recruiting patients.

The Global Mercy will offer a variety of specialized surgeries, such as plastic, orthopaedic, general, women’s health, and ophthalmic procedures, targeting at least 2,400 surgeries during its stay. The mission will also provide opportunities for Ghanaian health professionals to train and collaborate with the international medical team, thus building specialist capacity within Ghana's healthcare system.

Akandoh further mentioned that Mercy Ships will offer post-surgery support, rehabilitation, and attend to some emergency cases. This partnership aligns with the government's health sector priorities and offers Ghana a chance to boost specialist healthcare beyond the Global Mercy's duration of stay.