The Global Mercy, the world’s largest civilian hospital ship, has arrived at the Port of Tema for a 10-month medical mission in Ghana, marking the fifth field service undertaken by the international humanitarian organisation Mercy Ships in the country.According to a Facebook post shared by the Ministry of Health on Friday, August 21, the vessel’s arrival was marked by a ceremony attended by government officials, diplomats, healthcare leaders and members of its international volunteer crew. The latest mission is expected to combine free specialist medical care with training and professional development for Ghanaian healthcare workers.During the field service, volunteer medical teams are expected to perform between 1,950 and 2,600 free surgeries for Ghanaian patients. The teams are also projected to provide between 1,610 and 2,145 dental treatments, while an estimated 100 to 250 local healthcare professionals will receive training through mentoring, education and clinical placements aboard the ship.The mission comes as Ghana seeks to expand access to safe and equitable surgical care under its National Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia Plan (NSOAP), launched in 2024.Speaking at the welcome ceremony, Minister for Health Kwabena Mintah Akandoh said the Global Mercy’s arrival represented another stage in a partnership between Ghana and Mercy Ships that has lasted for more than three decades.He noted that the latest field service follows the reaffirmation of cooperation between the two sides in 2025 and said the mission should be viewed as part of Ghana’s broader efforts to strengthen surgical and healthcare services.“It is therefore important that we view the arrival of the Global Mercy not as a stand-alone intervention, but as a collaborative effort to support and accelerate Ghana’s own national priorities,” the Minister said.He added that the ultimate measure of the mission would not simply be the number of operations performed while the ship was in Tema, but its longer-term effect on patients, healthcare professionals and institutions after the vessel leaves Ghana.The Minister also highlighted the HOPE Center, which provides support to patients before and after surgery while creating opportunities for Ghanaian healthcare professionals to work alongside international medical volunteers.He commended the ministries, government agencies, security services and health institutions involved in preparations for the ship’s arrival.Mercy Ships CEO Dr Michelle White said the organisation’s return to Tema carried particular significance because the port was where its first hospital ship, the Anastasis, docked more than 30 years ago.Since beginning operations in Ghana in 1991, Mercy Ships says it has trained nearly 3,000 Ghanaian healthcare professionals and carried out more than 2,500 surgical procedures in the country.The organisation also supported the Ghana Surgical Dialogue in 2025, an initiative that brought together national and international stakeholders to discuss the country’s surgical, obstetric and anaesthesia needs.Dr White said the latest field service would place significant emphasis on collaboration with Ghanaian institutions rather than focusing solely on direct medical interventions.Mercy Ships plans to work with the Ministry of Health, universities and professional institutions, including the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Ghana College of Nursing and Midwifery. The collaboration is expected to include postgraduate training placements aboard the Global Mercy.The approach reflects a broader shift in Mercy Ships’ work from providing humanitarian medical services alone towards strengthening local health systems through education, professional development and partnerships.Minister for Transport Joseph Bukari Nikpe, who welcomed the vessel on behalf of the transport sector, described Ghana’s ports as an important gateway to the wider West African sub-region.He noted the country’s strategic position in facilitating access to landlocked neighbours, including Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, and pledged the support of port authorities to ensure that the Global Mercy’s operations proceed smoothly during its stay.He wished the crew a safe and successful field service.The Global Mercy’s presence at Tema also highlights the port’s capacity to accommodate specialised international vessels supporting humanitarian and regional initiatives.The latest Mercy Ships mission comes against the backdrop of efforts to improve access to essential surgical services in Ghana.Through the NSOAP, the government has identified the expansion of safe, affordable and equitable surgical, obstetric and anaesthesia care as a national priority. The plan seeks to strengthen the systems, workforce and infrastructure required to meet surgical needs across the country.Mercy Ships has operated hospital ships providing free surgical care in developing countries since 1978. According to the organisation, it has completed 47 field services across 14 African countries since 1990 and delivered more than 128,800 surgical procedures worldwide.Its current model combines surgical intervention with medical education, mentoring and health-system strengthening, with an increasing emphasis on partnerships with local governments and healthcare institutions.