President John Dramani Mahama has commended Mercy Ships for its continued humanitarian medical missions in Ghana, describing the organisation’s Global Mercy hospital ship as a vessel of “true mercy and humanism” at a time when many countries and individuals are increasingly focused on self-interest.
President Mahama made the remarks during a tour of the Global Mercy, the world’s largest civilian hospital ship, currently docked at the Tema Port as part of its latest humanitarian mission to Ghana.
The President said he was deeply moved by his interactions with Ghanaian patients receiving specialised medical treatment aboard the vessel, including children undergoing procedures for orthopaedic conditions.
“During my tour of Global Mercy, the world’s largest civilian hospital ship docked at Tema Port, I was deeply moved by my interactions with fellow Ghanaians undergoing life-changing treatments, including childhood orthopaedic conditions, many of whom had waited years to receive them,” he said.
President Mahama welcomed the Mercy Ships team back to Ghana for what he described as its fifth mission to the country since 1991.
“I welcomed the Mercy Ships team back to Ghana for their fifth mission since 1991,” he stated, emphasising the longstanding relationship between Ghana and the humanitarian organisation.
He said the work of Mercy Ships was particularly significant in an era where humanitarian solidarity was increasingly being challenged by competing individual and national interests.
“In a world where countries and individuals are increasingly focused on self-interest, Mercy Ships remains a floating vessel of true mercy and humanism,” President Mahama said.
The President noted that the current mission would have a significant impact on Ghana’s healthcare system, with the Global Mercy expected to remain in the country for 10 months.
According to him, the mission would not only provide direct medical care to patients but also strengthen local healthcare capacity through training for Ghanaian health professionals.
“Its impact in Ghana is remarkable. During its 10-month stay, the mission will continue to provide direct patient care while training local health workers alongside its international medical team,” he said.
President Mahama also shared a lighter moment from his first experience sailing on a ship, saying he had initially expected the movement of the vessel to be more noticeable.
“On a lighter note, as someone who had never sailed on a ship before, I expected us to be walking like sailors,” he said.
“I was pleasantly surprised by how steady and stable the ship is. It felt just like any modern hospital on land,” the President added.
He expressed his appreciation to the medical professionals, volunteers, donors and local partners whose contributions continue to sustain the Mercy Ships mission.
“My sincere gratitude to the dedicated medical crew, volunteers, donors, local partners, and friends of Mercy Ships,” President Mahama said.
He further assured the organisation that Ghana’s appreciation of its humanitarian work extended beyond the current mission, stressing that the country would continue to welcome the organisation.
“As I told them today, this is not the first time they have been here, and it will certainly not be the last,” he said.
While expressing gratitude for the support provided by international humanitarian organisations, President Mahama stressed that his administration remained committed to building a healthcare system capable of providing quality services to Ghanaians.
“While we appreciate humanitarian support, my administration remains firmly committed to expanding access to quality healthcare for all Ghanaians,” he said.
He outlined a number of measures being pursued by his administration, including the expansion of free primary healthcare, strengthening of the National Health Insurance Scheme, investment in hospitals and healthcare workers, and the use of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund to help families facing the financial burden of serious non-communicable diseases.
“We are expanding free primary health care, strengthening the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), investing in hospitals and health workers, and using the Ghana Medical Trust Fund to ease the burden of serious non-communicable diseases on families,” President Mahama stated.
The President said the interventions were intended to complement humanitarian assistance while ensuring that Ghana continued to strengthen its own healthcare infrastructure and capacity.
He concluded his message by extending the nation’s appreciation to the crew of the Global Mercy for the medical services and humanitarian support being provided to Ghanaian patients.
“To the crew of the Global Mercy, Ghana says thank you,” President Mahama said.
The latest Mercy Ships mission adds to the organisation’s longstanding medical engagement with Ghana, bringing together international medical professionals and local health workers to provide specialised treatment while supporting skills development within the country’s health sector.
