Former President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, has called for a fundamental shift in global health leadership, urging African nations to take charge of their healthcare trajectory by crafting systems that reflect their unique challenges, innovations, and aspirations.
Delivering the keynote address at the African Health Sovereignty (ASH) Summit in Accra on Tuesday, Mahama emphasized the need for Africa to transition from being a passive beneficiary of international aid to becoming the principal designer of its own health destiny.
“Africa must no longer be the patient. It must be the driver, the author, the architect, and the advocate of its own health destiny,” Mahama declared.
The summit convened against the backdrop of intensifying global disruptions from armed conflicts and pandemics to economic instability and widening inequality which Mahama said have laid bare the fragility of current health systems and the inadequacies of global health governance.
“The world has changed, but global health governance has not kept pace. This is a moment for us to redesign the architecture that has, for far too long, excluded Africa’s voices, needs, and innovations,” he said.
While acknowledging progress in areas such as maternal and child health, access to essential medicines, and expanded healthcare coverage through partnerships, Mahama warned that these achievements are increasingly at risk.
“In 2023, development assistance declined sharply, and Africa felt the shock immediately. Maternal health programmes were halted, vaccine supplies delayed, and essential medicines disappeared from shelves. In Ghana, our CHPS compounds were brought to their knees,” he explained.
He stressed that the crisis goes beyond funding—it reflects a lack of vision and a breakdown in collective responsibility. Without transformative reforms, Mahama cautioned, African health systems will remain vulnerable.
Mahama called on African governments to lead with conviction and reclaim control over their health systems. He reminded attendees of the continent’s pivotal role in past global health responses.
“Let us remember, when HIV ravaged our continent, it was African leaders who catalysed the response. During Ebola, leaders in West Africa became the moral compass of the world. And during COVID-19, Africa stood up and demanded vaccine justice.”
To illustrate Ghana’s commitment, Mahama announced the launch of MahamaCare, a sovereign health innovation fund aimed at addressing chronic illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, and kidney disease. He shared the story of Acacia, a young mother in Odumase who survived childbirth complications thanks to a digitally connected CHPS facility.
“This is not a vision of the future; it is our present reality. We are not only reacting to emergencies, we are building systems that create jobs, reduce inequalities, and uphold human dignity,” he said.
President Mahama also introduced two major initiatives:
- A high-level task force on global health governance to overhaul outdated systems and ensure they reflect contemporary challenges and African perspectives.
- The SUSTAIN Initiative, an African-led platform designed to align national budgets with health priorities, attract sovereign and philanthropic investment, and enhance transparency.
He urged African finance ministers and development partners to view health not as a financial burden but as a strategic investment, citing World Health Organization data showing that every dollar spent on health can generate up to four dollars in economic productivity.
“Health is the engine of productivity. It is the currency of our dignity. It is our greatest public good,” Mahama stated. “We must reject the outdated notion that health drains our economies.”
Mahama concluded his speech with a stirring appeal for African unity and leadership in global health:
“Africa’s pain is not a deficit; it is a death of perspective. Our healing is not a plea, it is a rallying cry for sovereignty. Let us reset the moral compass of global health and own our future. From Accra, let the world hear us: let Africa rise.”
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