Accra: President John Dramani Mahama has called for a shift in global health governance, urging African nations to define and lead their own health priorities. Speaking at the opening of the Africa Health Sovereignty Summit in Accra, President Mahama emphasized the need for Africa to 'own its future by building systems that generate wealth, uphold dignity, and expand purpose.'
According to Ghana News Agency, the Summit, held at the Kempinski Hotel, brought together African Heads of State, policymakers, and global health stakeholders to address structural flaws in global health systems exposed by war, pandemics, climate shocks, and economic volatility. President Mahama underscored the importance of Africa taking charge of its health destiny, stating, 'Africa must no longer be the patient; it must be the author, the architect, and the advocate of its health destiny.'
He advocated for the creation of systems that promote resilience, equity, and dignity, rather than merely responding to crises. President Mahama invited African nations to collaborate on building a health investment ecosystem 'driven by purpose, powered by equity, and anchored in sovereignty.' He highlighted the establishment of institutions like Africa CDC and the African Medicines Agency as symbols of an emerging African health ecosystem, emphasizing their role in fostering self-determination through digital innovation and data.
President Mahama challenged the perception that health is a drain on economies, asserting, 'In truth, health is the engine of productivity and the bedrock of inclusive growth.' He referenced WHO data indicating that every dollar invested in health resilience could yield up to four dollars in returns, noting that the return is even more significant in Africa due to its youthful population.
He urged ministries of finance to view health as a capital investment and advocated for sovereign wealth funds to support biotech, diagnostics, and resilient infrastructure. Economists, he stressed, should revise national accounts to recognize health as a productivity multiplier.
On the topic of global reform, President Mahama called for health governance that is 'democratic, just, and fit for 21st-century realities,' reflecting a multipolar, digitally interconnected, and climate-challenged world. He also highlighted Ghana's progress, announcing the uncapping of National Health Insurance Scheme financing, which has created a fiscal space of about GHS3.5 billion for expanded coverage.
President Mahama introduced the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, a sovereign innovation aimed at mobilizing public, private, and philanthropic capital to tackle chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes. He revealed plans to launch a Primary Health Care Programme and recruit community health volunteers to enhance preventive care and citizen wellness.
He announced two major commitments: the Presidential High-Level Task Force on Global Health Governance and the Scaling Up Sovereign Transition and Institutional Networks (SUSTAIN) Initiative. The latter aims to align budgets with health priorities, mobilize diverse capital, and foster cross-border innovation and accountability. Concluding his address, President Mahama declared, 'Health is not a luxury but the foundation of freedom; it is the currency of people's dignity and the greatest public good.'
