President John Dramani Mahama has issued a strong call to African leaders to reframe health not as a cost to national budgets but as a central driver of economic productivity and inclusive growth.
Delivering the keynote address at the Accra Health Sovereignty Summit on Tuesday 5 August 2025, the President urged a decisive shift from donor dependency and outdated economic thinking to a model where health is treated as a strategic investment.
“The outdated notion that health drains our economies must be rejected,” President Mahama declared. “In truth, health is the engine of productivity and the bedrock of inclusive growth.”
Citing World Health Organization (WHO) research, he noted that every $1 invested in health resilience generates up to $4 in returns, a figure he said would be even higher in Africa due to its youthful demographics and untapped economic potential.
“Every malaria case prevented is a day of work regained. Every maternal death avoided is a family stabilised. Every vaccinated child is a future secured,” he stated.
President Mahama called for a “new multilateralism” rooted in mutual respect and co-creation rather than dependency and extraction.
He challenged Finance Ministers and economists across Africa to reflect health spending as a capital investment, not just a consumption cost, in national accounts.
President Mahama outlined a three-tier strategy to transform health systems, focusing on global advocacy for reformed health governance, regional support for African-led innovations, and national efforts to mobilize political will and resources.
He announced the “uncapping” of Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme, unlocking GH₵3.5 billion for expanded access, and introduced the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (MahamaCares) to address non-communicable diseases.
Plans are also underway for a National Primary Healthcare Programme with community health volunteers. He emphasized the role of digital tools like PANABIOS, PROPER, and BIONOVAC in improving health preparedness, transparency, and vaccine production.
The Africa Health Sovereignty Summit convened key African and global figures to support this Pan-African agenda.
Also in attendance were policymakers, health professionals from across Africa and the diaspora, international experts, investors, non-profits, and students, united by a shared commitment to advancing health equity and sovereignty on the continent.
By: J.W Quarm
