President John Dramani Mahama has urged African leaders to reframe health as a strategic investment in development and sovereignty, rather than treating it as a financial burden.
Addressing a high-level meeting of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in New York on Monday, Mr Mahama argued that the continent’s future prosperity depends on building resilient health systems and securing sustainable financing.
“Health is not a cost. It is the engine of productivity and the foundation of sovereignty,” he declared.
The meeting, convened ahead of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, was themed “Securing Africa’s Health Sovereignty: Political Leadership for Sustainable Health Financing, Local Manufacturing, and Pandemic Preparedness.” It brought together heads of state and government to assess Africa’s post-COVID-19 health agenda.
Discussions focused on local vaccine production, resource mobilisation for sustainable healthcare, and improved readiness for future pandemics—key priorities for ensuring that Africa is not left vulnerable in times of global health crises.
President Mahama, who has consistently championed stronger African ownership of health systems, is expected to advance the conversation further on Tuesday when he hosts a side event dubbed “The Accra Reset: Reimagining Global Governance for Health and Development.” The session, scheduled for 8:00 p.m. GMT, will bring together policymakers, global partners, and development experts to explore new frameworks for health governance and international cooperation.
His interventions underscore Africa’s growing resolve to achieve self-reliance in healthcare financing and pandemic preparedness—critical steps toward strengthening the continent’s sovereignty and resilience in an increasingly uncertain global environment.
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