Smile Train Launches Africa’s Largest Cleft Centre In Ghana

World’s leading cleft-focused nonprofit organisation, Smile Train, has inaugurated Africa’s largest cleft care facility, the National Cleft Care Centre, at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, Ghana.

The state-of-the-art Cleft Leadership Centre (CLC) is designed to enhance cleft care delivery in Ghana and across the Sub-Saharan African region.

At the recent event, the president of the Ghana Cleft Foundation, Prof. Peter Donkor, said the establishment of the centre exemplified the long-term impact of investing in local health systems.

Donkor emphasised that the collaboration behind the centre would help ensure every child with a cleft condition has the opportunity to live a full, happy and healthy life.

“Smile Train empowers local medical professionals with training, funding, and resources to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children globally,” he said.

“We are advancing a sustainable solution and a scalable global health model for cleft treatment—drastically improving children’s lives, including their ability to eat, breathe, speak, and ultimately thrive.”

The centre is housed in a nearly 30,000-square-foot building.

Treatment capacity at KATH is expected to increase more than fivefold—from 220 to 800 surgeries annually—while surgical training capacity will rise from 3 to 18 professionals per year. This expansion addresses the urgent need for cleft care in Ghana, where about 700 babies are born with cleft conditions each year.

Prof. Donkor noted that the new center is the result of a four-way partnership between Smile Train, Ghana’s Ministry of Health, the Ghana Cleft Foundation, and KATH.

“Together, this coalition will unlock access to high-quality cleft care and training on an unprecedented scale,” he said.

On her part, the president and CEO of Smile Train, Susannah Schaefer, said the impact of the new center would be both immediate and long-lasting.

“It means many more children will receive the life-changing care they need, and there will now be a steady supply of trained professionals to carry this work forward for generations,” she said.

“This is how we create lasting change—by building capacity and empowering local health systems to lead the way.”

Schaefer noted that families across Ghana and neighboring countries continue to face barriers to timely, high-quality cleft care.

“The new CLC will not only expand regional cleft surgical capacity but also serve as a hub for interdisciplinary training—from surgery to dental care, speech therapy, and beyond,” she added.

She described the center as “a benchmark for surgical excellence in Africa and a shining example of Smile Train’s partnership-based model in action.”

Meanwhile, the acting chief executive officer of KATH, Dr. Paa Kwesi Baidoo, emphasised the facility’s broader impact on healthcare delivery in Ghana

“This four-way partnership marks a significant milestone in our commitment to strengthening Ghana’s healthcare infrastructure and expanding access to specialized care,” he said.“The National Cleft Care Centre will not only serve more children and families but also train the next generation of cleft care providers and support advanced research.”

Dr. Baidoo also highlighted Smile Train’s commitment to supporting high-quality, locally led cleft care around the world.

“As the latest addition to Smile Train’s global network of Cleft Leadership Centers, this facility stands as a beacon of hope for thousands of children and families in need,” he said.