Celebration of Partnership

Posted by Mercy Ships staff on Jan 20, 2012 at 10:18 am

On 19 December  2011, the Africa Mercy held a reception to celebrate twenty years of friendship and collaboration with the Republic of Ghana.  The occasion focused on past and future partnerships for health care development in Ghana and beyond. In all, one hundred and twenty guests came to further develop their relationship with Mercy Ships.

Those in attendance included Ambassador Donald Teitelbaum of the United States and the Ambassador Andrea Semadeni of Switzerland. Also in attendance was Dr. Frank Nyonator, Ag Director General of Ghana Health Service. The reception’s Master of Ceremonies, Rosa Whitaker, was accompanied by her husband, the Archbishop Nicholas Duncan Williams. Dr. Gary Parker, Chief Medical Officer, gave a presentation regarding the state of health care delivery in West Africa, while also sharing stories of lives that have been transformed through care received on the state-of-the-art hospital ship, the Africa Mercy.

Donovan Palmer, Managing Director of the Africa Mercy, spoke on the importance of partnership between Mercy Ships and the Republic of Ghana. Donovan stated, “As we consider the successes of health care in Ghana through the region and we look to the future, it is our firm belief that partnerships need to be at the core of all of our strategies. Working together side by side is the only way to build a complete health care system.” In closing, Donovan added, “To the government of Ghana, we welcome dialogue about where Mercy Ships can partner with the government in various aspects of civil society and how we might serve you in the future.”

Anchor Church is a special designation given to congregations that commit to partnering with Mercy Ships. Rosa Whitaker announced the addition of the first African Anchor Church, Action Chapel International. The Archbishop Nicholas Duncan Williams gave a gift on behalf of the church – a donation of $10,000 USD. He said, “I think that the vision of Mercy Ships makes a very powerful statement that love is not what you say, but love is what you do. It is my great desire that the leaders in our business community here tonight can demonstrate this love.” 

January 2012

Written by Nicole Pribbernow

Edited by Nancy Predaina

Photos by Debra Bell

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