President John Dramani Mahama has urged African leaders to take bold steps towards securing the continent’s health sovereignty, warning that declining global aid poses a serious threat to healthcare delivery across Africa.
Speaking at a high-level meeting of Heads of State and Government convened by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) ahead of the UN General Assembly debates, President Mahama stressed that health must be viewed as the foundation of development. “Health is not a cost. It is the engine of productivity and the foundation of sovereignty,” he declared.
He cautioned that recent cuts to international assistance, including an $8 billion reduction by the U.S. Congress and the termination of $54 billion worth of USAID contracts, highlight the urgency for Africa to finance and build resilient health systems.
He further noted that NATO allies’ increased defense spending has come at the expense of Official Development Assistance.
Outlining Ghana’s example, President Mahama cited the passage of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund Act (MahamaCare) to fund treatment for non-communicable diseases, the establishment of a National Vaccine Institute with GHS 75 million in seed funding, plans to roll out Free Primary Health Care, and the restoration of GHS 3.5 billion to health financing through the National Health Insurance Fund.
“These are practical steps, demonstrating that when political will is strong, sovereignty is achievable,” he emphasized.
President Mahama also highlighted the Accra Reset, launched last month at the Africa Health Sovereignty Summit, as a framework to transform global governance in health.
He urged African leaders to engage as one united bloc with global partners such as GAVI, the Global Fund, and the Pandemic Fund. “As the world steps back, let Africa step forward. Let us invest in our people’s health by investing in our health systems,” he concluded.
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
