President John Dramani Mahama is set to host the African Union (AU) Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Accra from 21 to 22 July 2026, with discussions focused on strengthening healthcare systems and accelerating Universal Health Coverage (UHC) across Africa.
The summit, themed “Advancing Justice, Equity and Universal Health Coverage: Ending AIDS, TB, Improving Maternal Health, Addressing Endemic Non-Communicable and Neglected Tropical Diseases and Conditions in Africa,” will bring together African Heads of State and Government, Ministers of Health, Finance and Foreign Affairs, officials of the African Union Commission, Regional Economic Communities, development partners, civil society organisations, youth representatives and private sector stakeholders.
According to a statement from the Presidency, the two-day summit will begin on 21 July with a meeting of technical experts from member states, including senior officials from Ministries of Health, Finance and Economic Planning, to prepare recommendations for ministerial and presidential deliberations.
The main session on 22 July will see African leaders adopt key decisions and a declaration aimed at accelerating the implementation of the African Union Roadmap to 2030 on Universal Health Coverage and other continental health priorities.
The Presidency said Ghana’s hosting of the summit reflects President Mahama’s commitment to equitable healthcare delivery and leadership in advancing health reforms across the continent.
It highlighted several flagship initiatives undertaken by the government, including the rollout of the Free Primary Health Care Programme, the uncapping of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to expand access to essential health services, and the establishment of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (MahamaCares) to support Universal Health Coverage.
The statement further noted that the government is investing in health infrastructure, workforce development, emergency preparedness and local pharmaceutical manufacturing to strengthen Ghana’s healthcare system while contributing to Africa’s efforts to eliminate AIDS and tuberculosis and reduce maternal mortality.
A key side event of the summit will be a Call to Action on Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Survival, to be led by the African Union Champion for Maternal and Child Health, President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, in partnership with the Accra Reset initiative.
The Government of Ghana has welcomed all participating Heads of State, delegates and stakeholders, reaffirming its commitment to working with the African Union and member states to translate commitments on Universal Health Coverage into meaningful action for the benefit of all Africans.
By: Bernard Mensah |Planbfmonline.com
Discussion about this post