President John Dramani Mahama has called on African countries to take greater ownership of their health systems, arguing that the continent can no longer remain dependent on healthcare solutions designed elsewhere.
Speaking at the African Union Extraordinary Summit on Universal Health Coverage and Ending AIDS in Accra, President Mahama said Africa must move from being a passive recipient of global health support to becoming a producer of its own medicines, strengthening its hospitals and protecting its people.
He noted that the decline in global health aid, from $50 billion to $39.1 billion within a year, should serve as a wake-up call for African governments to develop sustainable and homegrown solutions rather than rely heavily on external support.
According to President Mahama, Africa has the human capacity, resources and opportunities through frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to build a strong pharmaceutical manufacturing industry and improve healthcare delivery across the continent.
He described the push for health independence as a “new liberation struggle” against disease, inequality and dependency, stressing that the continent must take charge of its own health future.
President Mahama highlighted initiatives including the Accra Reset Initiative and Mahama Cares as examples of Ghana’s commitment to improving healthcare, while urging other African governments to fulfil commitments under the Abuja Declaration and increase investment in health.
He maintained that Africa must become the architect of its own health destiny through deliberate policies, stronger investments and collective action.
By: Bernard Mensah
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