President John Dramani Mahama has underscored the critical link between public health and national development, urging African governments to prioritize health sovereignty as a strategic imperative.
Speaking at the opening session of the African Health Sovereignty Summit at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra, President Mahama emphasized that health must be seen not just as a social good, but as a pillar of economic resilience and inclusive growth.
“Every malaria case prevented is a day of work regained, every maternal death avoided is a family stabilized, and every vaccinated child is a future secured,” President Mahama declared in his keynote address.
The summit, which brings together African Heads of State, health ministers, development partners, and global health leaders, is aimed at reimagining Africa’s place in global health governance. It focuses on strengthening health systems, ensuring local production of vaccines and essential medicines, and reinforcing African collaboration in health emergencies.
President Mahama also called for bold investment in health infrastructure, workforce, and innovation.
“Health is the engine of productivity and the bedrock of inclusive growth. If Africa is to secure its future, we must treat health sovereignty as non-negotiable,” he said.
The summit, hosted under the theme “African Health Sovereignty in a Reimagined Global Health Architecture”, is expected to produce a declaration outlining continent-wide commitments to health independence, pandemic preparedness, and equitable access to care.
