In a strategic boost to healthcare capacity in Ghana, the 14th batch of the Chinese medical team has launched an advanced surgical training programme for local surgeons at the China-Ghana Friendship (Lekma) Hospital, focusing on laparoscopic minimally invasive and cataract surgery. The initiative launched on January 12, 2026, underscores the deepening China-Ghana partnership in medical cooperation and skills development.
Led by Yang Yongguang, head of the Chinese medical team in Ghana, the programme aims to establish a sustainable academic exchange platform that empowers Ghanaian surgeons with cutting-edge techniques and supports the wider clinical use of modern surgical practices. Many of the procedures taught through this training, particularly laparoscopic and cataract surgeries, represent firsts in Ghana and West Africa, marking a significant milestone in regional healthcare advancement.
Local specialists, including Mahamadu Zakariah, head of the surgical unit at Lekma Hospital, emphasised that laparoscopic surgery’s benefits such as reduced blood loss and faster recovery times are transforming surgical care in Ghana. Zakariah also praised collaboration with the Chinese business community for helping subsidise surgeries while providing Ghanaian surgeons hands-on experience through frequent clinical practice.
The advanced training fits into a long-standing framework of China-Ghana health cooperation. China has been dispatching medical teams to Ghana for well over a decade, providing clinical services, training and community outreach. For example, recent efforts by Chinese medical teams have delivered free surgical treatments under charitable programmes at Lekma Hospital, performing dozens of cataract and laparoscopic surgeries that directly benefit local patients.
China’s contributions also include donations of medical equipment and supplies to enhance diagnostic and treatment capacities. In June 2025, the Chinese government and local partners donated ultrasound devices, surgical instruments and other critical tools to Lekma Hospital, supporting Ghana’s goal of achieving universal health coverage.
Beyond bilateral support in Ghana, China’s medical cooperation extends across Africa. In Sierra Leone, paired hospital initiatives are strengthening cardiological and ophthalmic services through telemedicine and shared clinical expertise. In Zambia, a paired hospital cooperation mechanism between Chinese and Zambian institutions aims to improve surgical capacity and diagnostic services, while medical teams in other countries like South Sudan have helped local doctors build practical skills in laparoscopic procedures.
The launch of advanced surgery training in Ghana reflects a shift toward sustainable, capacity-building cooperation in China-Africa health relations. Rather than simply delivering episodic aid, this approach emphasises skills transfer, hands-on clinical practice and knowledge sharing – elements critical to strengthening national health systems and expanding access to high-quality care across regions.
For Ghana, this collaboration enhances the expertise of local surgeons, improves treatment options for patients, and broadly elevates surgical standards in line with global best practices. For China and Ghana alike, it underscores the value of long-term, people-centred partnerships that deliver tangible improvements in quality of life and contribute to lasting institutional capacity.
