Mercy Ships Returns to Ghana After 19 Years, Begins Free Surgeries in Tema ‎

Tema, Ghana The Global Mercy™, the world's largest purpose-built civilian hospital ship, has begun performing free surgeries in Ghana, marking the return of the international charity Mercy Ships to the country after a 19-year absence .

A Renewed Partnership
The surgeries mark a new chapter in a relationship between Mercy Ships and the Government of Ghana that dates back to 1991.

The Global Mercy will remain docked at the Port of Tema until June 2027, over the course of a 10-month field service during which the vessel will deliver specialist surgical care while also mentoring and training Ghanaian healthcare professionals .

Ghana has, in recent years, worked to strengthen its surgical care architecture through its National Surgical, Obstetric, and Anaesthesia Plan (NSOAP). Despite this, cost, geographic access, and a shortage of specialists continue to keep timely surgical care out of reach for many patients.

The Scale of the Gap
Specialist shortages remain acute. According to the Ghana Health Service, the country currently has only around 200 practicing physician anaesthesiologists and orthopaedic surgeons combined, alongside close to 500 trained dental professionals nationwide .

Over the course of this field service, Mercy Ships expects to carry out between 1,900 and 2,600 surgeries and between 1,600 and 2,000 dental treatments, all free of charge to patients .

First Patients: Samuel and Joseph
Samuel, a 59-year-old mechanical fitter from Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, became the first patient to undergo surgery under the new field service. Samuel lost his sight to cataracts in 2025. Widowed and raising five children alone, he told Mercy Ships that the loss of his vision had left him unable to work or function independently, day or night. He said he was glad to be first in line for treatment, expressing hope of seeing properly again .

Joseph, five years old, also received surgery, for knock knees he had lived with for most of his life. His parents first noticed the condition when he was 18 months old, and by age three his father had considered delaying his school enrolment out of fear that other children would mock him. His mother told Mercy Ships that the surgery had given the family hope that his legs would be fixed and that he could finally start school .

Beyond the Operating Table
The field service is designed to leave an institutional footprint well beyond individual surgeries. Mercy Ships expects between 100 and 250 Ghanaian healthcare professionals to take part in clinical mentoring, education, and professional development during the ship's stay. Surgical specialties on offer will include pediatric orthopaedics, maxillofacial surgery, ophthalmic surgery, reconstructive plastic surgery, and general surgery.

Jonathan Ziehli, Mercy Ships' Director of Diplomacy, framed the return as an extension of a longstanding partnership. Ziehli said the organisation, working with the Ministry of Health and national partners, is investing both in surgical care for current patients and in building stronger surgical systems for future generations .

To anchor that sustainability goal, Mercy Ships volunteers will work directly alongside Ghanaian doctors, nurses, and other specialists throughout the field service. The organisation is also partnering with national institutions, including the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives, to support postgraduate education and clinical placements aboard the ship.

A Three-Decade Track Record
Since its first visit to Ghana in 1991, Mercy Ships has delivered 2,670 surgical procedures and more than 18,120 dental procedures in the country, while training over 2,920 Ghanaian healthcare professionals. The current field service represents the organisation's most substantial re-engagement with Ghana in nearly two decades.

Mustapha Bature Sallama
Medical/ Science Communicator,
Private Investigator, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Analysis,

International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding. ( USIP)

[email protected]
+233555275880

Sources
Mercy Ships press release, "Mercy Ships returns to provide free surgeries in Ghana after 19 years," Tema, Ghana, September 9, 2026.