President John Dramani Mahama has called on the international community to move beyond aid dependency and focus on building sovereign and resilient health systems across Africa.
Addressing delegates at the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva, the Ghanaian leader warned that sharp declines in global health funding and the withdrawal of major Western donors are exposing the fragility of health systems across the continent.
He revealed that Ghana lost $78 million in health support after the closure of U.S. aid programs, while cuts to PEPFAR funding in South Africa disrupted treatment access for over 1.4 million people living with HIV.
Mahama stressed that health security should no longer depend on charity, declaring that countries must develop their own sustainable healthcare capabilities.
The Ghanaian president highlighted reforms under the “Accra Reset” initiative launched in 2025, describing it as a new model for African health sovereignty.
He pointed to the expansion of Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme, increased domestic health financing, the launch of free primary healthcare programs and the establishment of the “Mahama Cares” medical trust fund for non-communicable diseases.
Mahama also proposed major reforms to the global health architecture, including a high-level reform panel, a new observatory to coordinate institutions such as the World Health Organization, GAVI and the Global Fund, and a financing mechanism aimed at boosting local pharmaceutical manufacturing and bio-innovation.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised Mahama’s leadership, saying the “echoes of Accra are now resonating in Geneva and around the world.”
