President John Dramani Mahama today urged the Ministry of Health to work with Mercy Ships to guarantee that patients treated during the organisation’s 10‑month mission in Ghana receive appropriate referrals and continued care after the vessel departs.
Speaking aboard the Global Mercy at Tema Harbour, the former president highlighted that the benefits of the mission should extend beyond the surgeries and procedures carried out while the ship was in port.
“A patient’s care must continue safely even after Global Mercy has left port,” Mahama said, stressing the need for safe and effective follow‑up care.
The president noted that the partnership offers Ghanaian surgeons, anaesthesia professionals, nurses and other health workers the chance to gain valuable experience working alongside the ship’s medical team, and that the skills acquired should help improve healthcare delivery in Ghana beyond the current mission.
He also called on relevant ministries and agencies to handle patient movement, medical supplies and other operational arrangements promptly and in accordance with Ghanaian law, and to provide practical, accountable support for the mission.
The Global Mercy, the world’s largest purpose‑built civilian hospital ship, returned to Ghana after 19 years to provide free specialist care for conditions such as cataracts, cleft lips and palates, tumours and childhood orthopaedic problems.
Mahama thanked Mercy Ships, its medical teams, volunteers, donors and Ghanaian partners for supporting patients who might otherwise face difficulties accessing specialist treatment.
As the ship leaves, the president’s call underscores the importance of sustaining the health gains achieved during the mission for the benefit of Ghana’s communities.
