Ghana is Securing Health Sovereignty with Concrete Actions – President Mahama at 80th UN General Assembly

Africa stands at a critical crossroads in its pursuit of health sovereignty, as declining aid flows and shifting global priorities continue to reshape the financing landscape for healthcare in ways that carry profound consequences for millions of people across the continent. Recent cuts to international assistance, including an $8 billion reduction approved by the United States Congress, serve as a stark reminder of the danger of relying too heavily on external support. Unless decisive leadership and deliberate action are taken, the hard-won gains made in maternal and child health, the control of infectious diseases, and the expansion of access to essential medicines and vaccines could easily be reversed, leaving citizens vulnerable and progress stalled.

At the 80th United Nations General Assembly, President John Dramani Mahama reminded his colleagues that Africa’s future health outcomes depend on aligning political will with strategic and sustained action that directly benefits citizens. Speaking at a meeting of the Africa CDC under the theme “Securing Africa’s Health Sovereignty: Political Leadership for Sustainable Health Financing, Local Manufacturing, and Pandemic Preparedness,” he stressed that Ghana is not merely discussing the idea of health sovereignty but is demonstrating its reality through bold, practical measures that are already reshaping the country’s health sector.

Among these measures is the passage of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund Act, which represents a significant step toward providing sustainable financing for individuals living with non-communicable diseases whose care is often costly and long-term. Equally important is the establishment of the National Vaccine Institute, supported by an initial seed investment of 75 million Ghana cedis, which positions Ghana to become a hub for vaccine research and production for the wider West African subregion. Plans are also underway for the nationwide rollout of free primary healthcare, a program designed to eliminate financial and structural barriers so that every citizen, regardless of their socio-economic status, can access essential health services without delay. In addition, the government’s decision to uncap the National Health Insurance levy has restored more than 33 billion cedis, equivalent to about $300 million, directly into health financing, thereby strengthening the foundation for universal health coverage.

These initiatives collectively demonstrate that health sovereignty is not an abstract aspiration but a tangible and achievable goal when leadership shows the determination to channel resources into policies that directly improve the quality of life for citizens. Yet Ghana’s progress, while encouraging, also highlights the wider truth that health sovereignty cannot be realized by individual countries in isolation. It requires an Africa-wide commitment to shared priorities, as well as a deliberate restructuring of global health governance that elevates African voices, expertise, and perspectives to the center of decision-making.

The Accra Compact and the Accra Reset Agenda, launched at the African Health Sovereignty Summit, provide an ambitious but necessary roadmap for this transformation. They call for the continent to move away from the margins of global decision-making forums and to claim its rightful role as a co-convener, co-designer, and co-owner of the health solutions and outcomes that will define the future.

The task ahead demands more than declarations; it requires sustained political resolve, significant financial commitments, and consistent policy choices that align with the urgent health needs of citizens. Stronger regional collaboration, harmonized strategies, and collective investments in research, innovation, and local pharmaceutical manufacturing will be essential. Above all, leaders must begin to view health not as a recurring expense that strains national budgets but as a critical investment in Africa’s long-term economic growth, social stability, and human development.

Africa’s moment of decision has arrived, and it cannot be deferred. Securing health sovereignty must not be reduced to political symbolism or empty rhetoric delivered at summits; it must be a lived reality reflected in universal access to care, protection against pandemics, and resilient systems capable of serving generations to come. This is not only the most urgent responsibility of our time but also the clearest path to building a healthier, more self-reliant, and more dignified Africa.