A collaborative surgical team at WAISS in Accra, Ghana, working together to deliver advanced care and hands-on training.

Ghana – Enhancing West African Healthcare

“From the very moment we turned into the driveway, we could see it was a special place.” Those were my words upon first seeing the West Africa Institute for Special Surgery (WAISS) in Accra, Ghana. This was on our first pilot mission to the brand-new hospital in January 2025.

WAISS was born through the vision, determination and passion of Dr. Kofi Boahene, Professor of Head and Neck Surgery at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Dr. Boahene is an esteemed member of numerous Face the Future missions to Kigali, Rwanda, performing complex oncological ablation and microvascular head and neck reconstruction procedures. Notwithstanding his training at the Mayo Clinic and outstanding career as a leading international surgeon, Kofi has always been attached to his Ghanaian roots. He has been planning, raising funds and developing his hospital for more than a decade.

Dr. Boahene’s goal is to provide “transformational world-class care right at home” through a broad range of specialties. The future is now, as WAISS begins collaborating with leading global surgeons and institutions, such as are being provided by Face the Future. As Dr. Boahene says, “Face the Future is a key partner in achieving our vision. We are counting on Face the Future’s global experience and demonstrated success in providing surgical care and education in developing countries.”

WAISS currently has four operating rooms, five consultation rooms and 40 inpatient beds. It has an in-house laboratory and its own oxygen plant, as this is an essential but lacking commodity in Ghana.

Dr. Boahene has expressed how much he values his relationship with Face the Future, just as we value this tremendous opportunity to support WAISS on its unique journey. In addition to providing complex surgical care, which is not available in Ghana, we will also be educating and training the next generation of surgeons, nurses and anesthesiologists. These Ghanaian providers will be given additional opportunities to learn and practice their profession at home rather than having to go abroad.

Together, WAISS and Face the Future will build capacity and enhance sustainability in West African healthcare. We will provide hope and transform lives. Our next mission with a team of 10 will be in January 2026.

Peter A. AdamsonOOnt, MD, FRCSC, FACSPresident and FounderFace the Future Foundation