The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), through its Special Intervention Programmes (SIP) Unit, has donated GH¢50,000 to Operation Smile Ghana to support free cleft surgeries for patients at the Ho Teaching Hospital, reaffirming the institution’s commitment to improving access to quality healthcare and transforming lives through impactful social interventions.
The support formed part of a medical outreach programme organised by Operation Smile Ghana at the Ho Teaching Hospital from June 4 to June 13, 2026, during which a team of specialist surgeons successfully performed corrective surgeries on 51 patients living with cleft conditions.
GoldBod’s contribution helped facilitate the life-changing surgeries, offering renewed hope to children and adults affected by cleft lip and cleft palate while easing the financial burden on their families.
Beyond the surgical interventions, the outreach programme also focused on strengthening healthcare delivery by building the capacity of local medical professionals.
As part of the initiative, Operation Smile Ghana trained healthcare personnel at the Ho Teaching Hospital to enhance their skills in the diagnosis, treatment and long-term management of cleft conditions. The training is expected to improve the hospital’s ability to deliver comprehensive and sustainable cleft care to patients within the Volta Region and beyond.
In addition to the 51 successful surgeries, 93 patients were screened during the outreach exercise to assess their medical conditions and determine their eligibility for future surgical interventions and continued clinical support.
The screening exercise forms part of Operation Smile Ghana’s long-term strategy to identify patients in need of specialised treatment and ensure continuity of care through subsequent medical missions.
GoldBod’s support to the initiative reflects the institution’s broader commitment to improving the wellbeing of vulnerable Ghanaians through targeted interventions under its Special Intervention Programmes.
The partnership with Operation Smile Ghana underscores GoldBod’s commitment to supporting healthcare initiatives that deliver lasting social impact, particularly for vulnerable individuals requiring specialised medical care.
