President John Dramani Mahama has urged leaders in Africa to view health as a catalyst for development and sovereignty, not merely as a financial drain.
Addressing a high-level gathering of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in New York on Monday, Mahama stressed that Africa’s future hinges on building resilient health systems backed by sustainable financing.
“Health is not a cost. It is the engine of productivity and the foundation of sovereignty,” he stated.
The meeting, themed “Securing Africa’s Health Sovereignty: Political Leadership for Sustainable Health Financing, Local Manufacturing, and Pandemic Preparedness”, drew heads of state and government ahead of the United Nations General Assembly’s 80th session.
Deliberations focused on strengthening Africa’s health sovereignty in the post-COVID era—emphasising local vaccine production, mobilising resources for sustainable healthcare, and preparing for future pandemics.
On Tuesday, Mahama will further the discussion by hosting a side event titled “The Accra Reset: Reimagining Global Governance for Health and Development” at 8:00 p.m. GMT.
The forum will bring together policymakers and global partners to explore new approaches to health governance and international collaboration.
Through these interventions, Mahama underscores Africa’s determination to achieve greater self-reliance in healthcare financing and preparedness, ensuring the continent is better shielded against future global health threats.
