President John Dramani Mahama has launched a major initiative at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), urging a fundamental reset of global governance for health and development.
Speaking in his role as African Union Champion for African Financial Institutions, Mahama convened a high-level side event in New York under the theme “The Accra Reset: Reimagining Global Governance for Health and Development.”
The gathering brought together an influential line-up, including the Prime Minister of Barbados, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo (co-convenor), former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the Director-Generals of the World Health Organization (WHO) and World Trade Organization (WTO), African health ministers, and the CEO of GAVI.
Outlining the framework, President Mahama positioned health as the foundation of a new global governance model.
He proposed the establishment of a Global Presidential Council of heads of state, supported by a high-level advisory panel of experts, to champion the agenda.
Rejecting outdated aid-driven models, Mahama called for coalitions, shared responsibility, and agile platforms.
“Health is an investment in sovereignty and productivity, not a budgetary burden,” he stressed.
Mahama underscored Ghana’s commitment through key reforms, including the passage of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund Act (MahamaCare) to fund treatment for non-communicable diseases, the establishment of a National Vaccine Institute with GHS 75 million seed capital, the uncapping of the National Health Insurance Fund to restore GHS 3.5 billion, and plans to launch Free Primary Health Care to provide essential services “without cost, without barriers, without delay.”
The launch follows the Africa Health Sovereignty Summit held in Accra in August 2025, where African leaders began mapping strategies to strengthen continent-led health resilience.
Mahama warned of shrinking international support, citing U.S. funding cuts and declining overseas development assistance. Without self-reliance, he cautioned, Africa risks “reversal in health outcomes.”
Source: myxyzonline.com/J.W. Quarm
