First-Ever Minimally Invasive Hernia Surgery Marks Breakthrough in Ghana’s Public Hospitals
The 14th Chinese medical team, working alongside Ghanaian doctors, has successfully performed Ghana’s first laparoscopic transabdominal anterior hernia repair in the country’s public healthcare system.
The milestone procedure took place at the Ledzokuku Municipal Assembly (Lekma) Hospital in Accra, led by Dr. Yang Yongguang, chief of the Chinese medical team, and Dr. Mahamadu Zakariah, head of the hospital’s surgery department.
The patient, 46-year-old Godwin Seglah, had been battling severe abdominal pain since February 2025 and was initially scheduled for surgery at the 37 Military Hospital in August. However, through a referral from a friend, he turned to Lekma Hospital and underwent the operation a day after arrival.
“At first, I was scared, but the doctors did a wonderful job. The pain I used to feel is gone, and I’m already feeling better,” Seglah said from his recovery bed.
Dr. Yang hailed the surgery as “a breakthrough, from zero to one,” stressing the team’s commitment to expanding the use of minimally invasive techniques in Ghana to improve patient recovery times and reduce complications.
Hernia, a condition where an internal organ pushes through a weak spot in surrounding muscle or tissue, is common in the abdomen, groin, and navel areas.
Medical experts say the success of this procedure signals a new chapter in Ghana’s public healthcare system, providing patients with access to advanced surgical interventions that were previously unavailable locally.
