Mahama to build and re-introduce the "Onipa Nua" hospital ship

Hospital ships are naval vessels which play a vital role in providing medical care and humanitarian aid in challenging environments, making them an important asset for rural health and disaster response efforts.

The first hospital ship in Ghana, Onipa Nua was built by Late President Jerry John Rawlings and named after the late Ghanaian musician, Amada Jebre who was popularly known as Onipa Nua

The Late Amada Jebre became blind at the age of two, but identified his musical talent as a child and learned to play the Ghanaian thumb piano.

In the mid 60’s, Amada started playing music on the street and was endeared to the hearts of many who gave him the nickname Onipa Nua, meaning “the people’s brother.”

Onipa Nua was discovered by Faisal Helwani in 1980, and had his musical career turned around leading to his first international musical concert in Paris in 1990.

The deployment of the Onipa Nua hospital ship at the time provided essential healthcare services to communities along the Volta River.

In connection with this, Former President John Dramani Mahama who is also the 2024 presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress has promised to build and re-introduce the Onipa Nua hospital ship to continue serving those in need if elected the next president of the Republic of Ghana.

The hospital ship will be equipped with medical facilities, including operating rooms, consultation rooms, and a pharmacy, to provide essential healthcare services to communities along the Volta River. It will also have a team of medical professionals on board to provide care and treatment to those who may not have access to healthcare facilities on land.

Mahama's promise to re-introduce the Onipa Nua hospitaltal ship demonstrates his commitment to improving healthcare access for all Ghanaians, especially those in remote and underserved areas. If elected, he plans to prioritise the health and well-being of all citizens and ensure that no one is left behind when it comes to accessing quality healthcare services.

Anthony Obeng Afrane