President John Dramani Mahama has issued a powerful call for Africa to assert its place in the global health architecture, urging leaders across the continent to move from the margins to the centre of global health decision-making.
Delivering the keynote address at the 2nd edition of the WHX Leaders Africa Summit in Accra, held under the theme “Catalyzing Africa’s Health Revolution through Investment, Innovation, Impact and Infrastructure,” President Mahama described the gathering as a defining moment for the continent.
“This summit is not merely an event on our calendar; it is a defining continental moment,” President Mahama declared. “A moment when Africa asserts its rightful position in the global health architecture and when we recommit ourselves to building a future where our own agency shapes our health security, our scientific leadership, and our health economies.”
Africa at a Time of Global Transformation
The President noted that the summit comes at a period marked by profound global shifts.
“We meet at a time when health systems are being redesigned, supply chains are being re-wired, and new geopolitical realities are forcing every region to rethink resilience,” he said.
According to him, these shifts present both challenges and opportunities, but Africa cannot afford to remain on the sidelines.
“The truth is simple: Africa cannot afford to be a bystander. Africa must be a participant,” he stated.
A Rising Wave of African Innovation
President Mahama highlighted the emergence of a new generation of African innovators transforming the continent’s scientific landscape.
“Across our continent, a new generation of innovators and entrepreneurs is emerging. We see advances in biotechnology, digital health, vaccine research and medical manufacturing,” he noted.
He emphasised the strategic importance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), calling it a key driver for expanding Africa’s health industries.
“The AfCFTA, the world’s largest free trade area by population is opening a new frontier for health markets and industrial expansion,” President Mahama said.
Persistent Vulnerabilities Demand Urgent Action
Despite clear progress, the President cautioned that Africa continues to face serious structural weaknesses.
“Our vulnerabilities remain visible persistent inequities, fragile supply chains, limited manufacturing capacity, and inadequate investment in primary healthcare and emergency preparedness,” he said.
He noted that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed these weaknesses in dramatic fashion.
“COVID-19 reminded the world and painfully reminded Africa, that in moments of global crisis, we are often the last to receive support,” he stated.
“Those experiences taught us a hard truth: no continent is safe until every continent is safe.”
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
