President John Mahama has called upon African leaders to regard health not merely as an expense but as a vital catalyst for development and sovereignty.
During a high-level meeting of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in New York on Monday, the Ghanaian president cautioned that the future of the continent hinges on the investment in more robust health systems.
“Health is not a cost. It is the engine of productivity and the foundation of sovereignty,” he asserted.
The meeting, which was conducted under the theme “Securing Africa’s Health Sovereignty: Political Leadership for Sustainable Health Financing, Local Manufacturing, and Pandemic Preparedness,” brought together heads of state and government to contemplate strategies for enhancing resilience in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
President Mahama’s statement comes at a time when Africa is striving to increase local vaccine production, secure sustainable funding, and bolster readiness for future global health crises.
On Tuesday, he is anticipated to further the discussion when he hosts a side event during the United Nations General Assembly. This discussion, set for 8:00 p.m. GMT, is titled “The Accra Reset: Reimagining Global Governance for Health and Development.” It will gather global partners and policymakers to explore new frameworks for international health collaboration.
Mahama’s initiatives underscore the rising demand for Africa to assume greater responsibility for its health security, ensuring that the continent is adequately prepared for the next pandemic.
