Time for Africa to Take Charge of Its Health Needs – President Mahama Urges Colleague Leaders
President John Dramani Mahama has called on African leaders to urgently take ownership of the continent’s health systems, warning that reliance on external funding is no longer sustainable.
Speaking at a high-level meeting of heads of state and government of the Africa CDC in New York on Monday, ahead of the opening of the 80th UN General Assembly General Debate, President Mahama stressed that sovereignty in health was essential for Africa’s survival.
The meeting was held under the theme “Securing Africa’s Health Sovereignty: Political Leadership for Sustainable Health Financing, Local Manufacturing, and Pandemic Preparedness.”
“Health is not a cost. It is the engine of productivity and the foundation of sovereignty,” President Mahama declared.
He cautioned that declining international assistance posed a serious threat to Africa’s progress in healthcare.
“The truth is stark: external funding for healthcare and humanitarian assistance is declining rapidly. The US Congress in July cut $8 billion from the budget for international assistance. USAID contracts worth $54 billion have been terminated. This is not peculiar to the US alone,” he noted.
Citing NATO countries’ shift of resources into defence spending, he warned that Africa risked being left vulnerable if it failed to act.
“If we do not take our health destiny into our own hands by shaping new strategies and partnerships, our citizens would be left without medicines, without vaccines, and without hope. And there will be a reversal in our health care outcomes. That is why sovereignty in health is not optional. It is survival.”
Call for Political Leadership
President Mahama reminded his colleague’s leaders that the responsibility of safeguarding lives lies with political leaders.
“This meeting is vital because, as heads of state, the responsibility of leadership in protecting the health and lives of our citizens rests directly on our shoulders. We must step up to the plate and redirect resources to where they matter most. We must cut wasteful expenditure and channel funds to improving health facilities, training more health professionals, producing our medicines, and our own vaccines,” he urged.
Ghana’s Experience
Highlighting Ghana’s progress, President Mahama outlined bold reforms already underway to strengthen the country’s health sovereignty.
“In Ghana, we are not just talking about sovereignty, we are working to make it real,” he said.
He cited the passage of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund Act (MahamaCare) to sustainably finance treatment for non-communicable diseases, the establishment of a National Vaccine Institute with GHS 75 million seed funding, and the upcoming rollout of a Free Primary Health Care programme.
He added that the government had uncapped the National Health Insurance Fund, restoring GHS 3.5 billion (about $300 million) of health funding that was previously diverted into the consolidated fund.
“These are practical steps, demonstrating that when political will is strong, sovereignty is achievable,” he emphasized.
Accra Reset and Africa’s Global Role
President Mahama also referenced the recent Africa Health Sovereignty Summit in Accra, where leaders launched the Accra Reset to transform global health governance.
“Africa must not only be invited to global health discussions. Africa must be a co-convener, a co-designer, and a co-owner of solutions,” he said.
Calling for unity, he urged his colleagues to present a common front in engaging international health financing institutions.
“When we go to GAVI, the Global Fund, or the Pandemic Fund, we must go as one Africa – united, determined, and demanding fairness and equity.”
He ended with a rallying call to action,“Colleagues, let us move from words to action. As the world steps back, let Africa step forward. Let us invest in our people’s health by investing in our health systems. Health is not a cost. It is the engine of productivity and the foundation of sovereignty. The time is now.”
Source: Felix Nyaaba/expressnewsghana
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