Africa cannot afford to be a bystander — Mahama urges active continental role in health
President John Dramani Mahama has delivered a strong call for Africa to abandon passivity in global health and to take full control of its health future. Speaking at the opening of the World Health Expo (WHX) Leaders Africa 2025 Summit, the President declared that Africa cannot afford to be a bystander when it comes to healthcare and health security.
He stressed that the continent’s greatest obstacle is not lack of talent or opportunity but a failure to fully own and manage its health agenda. The COVID-19 pandemic, he said, exposed deep structural weaknesses in supply chains, manufacturing capacity and access to critical medicines — weaknesses that remain unless Africa builds its own health infrastructure.
To that end, Mahama urged African governments and private stakeholders to invest in vaccine production, medical manufacturing and health-technology development. He argued that cutting reliance on imports would safeguard the continent against future global emergencies that tend to push African nations to the back of the queue.
In Ghana’s case, government representatives pointed to recent reforms as a step in the right direction. The country’s Free Primary Healthcare Programme aims to eliminate financial barriers at the point of care, while the Ghana Medical Trust Fund is expanding access to specialized treatments such as oncology, dialysis and high-end diagnostics. Health-sector officials say these efforts demonstrate how ownership and local investment can improve care for citizens.
The Health Minister also highlighted Ghana’s growing digital health infrastructure, including investments in national health intelligence systems and health-data management tools. These initiatives are meant to support evidence-driven policy making and equitable healthcare delivery.
Mahama concluded by calling on African governments, investors and global health actors to shift toward strategic, transformative and sustainable partnerships. He said the WHX Summit should be remembered as a turning point when Africa chose ambition over caution and unity over fragmentation in building its health future.
As Africa confronts multiple health challenges — from infectious diseases to climate-driven risks — the President’s message resonates as a bold reminder that self-reliance, investment, and regional cooperation may be the keys to lasting health security on the continent.
