President John Dramani Mahama has declared that Africa’s ambition to build a strong pharmaceutical manufacturing industry is no longer “a mere scribble on paper” but a vision steadily advancing toward reality.
Speaking on Day Two of the African Union Extraordinary Summit, President Mahama urged the continent to reduce its heavy dependence on imported medicines and medical supplies by investing in local pharmaceutical production and industrial transformation.
He warned that reliance on external sources for essential health commodities remains a major vulnerability, stressing that strengthening domestic manufacturing capacity is critical to achieving health security, driving economic transformation, and creating jobs for Africa’s growing youth population.
President Mahama also highlighted the decline in development assistance for health, cautioning that many African countries continue to depend significantly on external funding to sustain their systems. He described the moment as defining, requiring bold, homegrown solutions.
Framing health investment as both a social and economic priority, he called for a shift from commitments to concrete action, linking stronger health systems to economic growth, job creation, and long‑term resilience.
In a strong appeal, President Mahama urged African Heads of State, Health Ministers, policymakers, and partners to turn commitments into action, stressing that the continent’s health future depends on bold decisions that deliver real results.
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