President John Dramani Mahama has called for a fundamental shift in Africa’s approach to healthcare, urging governments and industry leaders to view the sector as a strategic economic investment rather than a recurring budgetary expense.
Addressing the Health Plenary of the Alamein Africa Forum in Egypt, the President stressed that building strong and self-reliant health systems was critical to securing Africa’s economic future, creating jobs and reducing the continent’s dependence on imported medicines and vaccines.
Mr Mahama advocated increased investment in local pharmaceutical manufacturing, health innovation and regional value chains to strengthen what he described as Africa’s health sovereignty.
According to him, healthcare should be recognised as a high-growth sector capable of driving industrialisation and generating significant economic returns while improving the wellbeing of citizens.
The President highlighted key health initiatives under Ghana’s Reset Agenda, including efforts to expand the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), provide Free Primary Healthcare, strengthen the Ghana Medical Trust Fund and build domestic capacity for the production of health products.
He noted that these measures were aimed at improving access to quality healthcare while positioning Ghana as a contributor to Africa’s broader health manufacturing and innovation agenda.
Mr Mahama also underscored the need for stronger collaboration among governments, financial institutions, regulators and industrial players to accelerate the development of resilient health industries across the continent.
He said Africa must seize opportunities to develop its pharmaceutical sector, strengthen regional production networks and invest in technologies that will make healthcare systems more sustainable and less vulnerable to external shocks.
The President’s remarks come amid growing concerns over Africa’s reliance on imported medicines and vaccines and the need for greater local production capacity to enhance health security.
He called on stakeholders across the public and private sectors to work together in creating an enabling environment that supports investment, innovation and industrial growth in healthcare.
Mr Mahama emphasised that strengthening Africa’s health sector would not only improve public health outcomes but also contribute significantly to economic transformation and long-term development.
He urged African leaders to make strategic investments in healthcare today to secure the continent’s health and economic future for generations to come.