Senior commanders from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, led by Senior Captain Zhou Hanwen, have paid a courtesy call on the Ministry following the arrival of the hospital ship AUSPICIOUS ARK (Hull 868) at the Port of Tema as part of a week-long humanitarian medical mission.
The delegation was received by the Chief Director of the Ministry, Mr. Emmanuel Kartey, on behalf of the Minister, Hon. Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, together with other senior officials.
Mr. Kartey commended the Chinese military for bringing direct humanitarian support to Ghana, describing the visit as a reflection of the deepening bilateral relations and growing maritime cooperation between Accra and Beijing.
According to him, the collaboration is focused on humanitarian assistance, joint training programmes and efforts to enhance regional maritime safety.
He noted that the visit of the hospital ship represents an important aspect of military diplomacy, which would broaden medical exchanges between the two countries and strengthen professional relations among healthcare personnel.
Mr. Kartey said the engagement would facilitate the sharing of clinical knowledge, expertise and experiences between Ghanaian and Chinese medical professionals, ultimately contributing to improved healthcare delivery.
Senior Captain Hanwen expressed gratitude for Ghana’s support of various areas of cooperation with China and described the mission as a landmark event in bilateral relations.
He explained that the seven-day friendly visit and humanitarian medical outreach, being undertaken under “Mission Harmony 2026,” marks the first time a Chinese naval hospital ship has visited Ghana.
According to him, the mission will provide medical services to the Ghanaian public while creating opportunities for professional exchanges between Ghanaian and Chinese military medical personnel to learn from each other’s healthcare practices and humanitarian assistance operations.
The AUSPICIOUS ARK is equipped with state-of-the-art medical facilities, including modern diagnostic equipment, operating theatres, intensive care units and a team of specialized military doctors and nurses.
The floating hospital is expected to provide free medical, surgical and dental services to thousands of Ghanaians during its stay, while also organizing cross-training workshops for local healthcare professionals.
The vessel will remain docked at Tema until October 30, 2026, where it will conduct free outpatient clinics, specialized surgical procedures and community wellness programmes in collaboration with the Ghana Armed Forces Medical Service and the Ministry of Health.
The mission is expected to strengthen defence and health cooperation between Ghana and China while expanding opportunities for medical knowledge-sharing and humanitarian collaboration between the two nations.