President John Dramani Mahama has begun an official visit to France, arriving in Lyon ahead of the 2026 One Health Summit, where global leaders are expected to shape coordinated responses to health, food systems and environmental challenges.
The visit comes at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron and places Ghana at the centre of a major international policy discussion that links human health, animal health and environmental sustainability under the One Health framework.
Upon arrival in Lyon, President Mahama was received by members of the Ghanaian community living in the city, who gathered to welcome him on Easter Monday. The engagement highlighted the diaspora’s continued connection to Ghana and the symbolic weight of presidential visits in strengthening those ties.
The summit, scheduled for Tuesday, brings together heads of state, health ministers, international organisations and leading experts to address growing global concerns around pandemic preparedness, sustainable agriculture, and the resilience of health systems. The One Health approach, which underpins the discussions, is increasingly viewed by global health institutions as essential in managing future health risks that arise from the intersection of human activity, livestock systems and environmental change.
President Mahama is expected to co chair the high level segment of the summit alongside President Macron. His participation reflects Ghana’s positioning within broader international efforts to strengthen cooperation on public health governance and sustainable development. It also aligns with his wider policy agenda under the Accra Reset Initiative, which focuses on rethinking global development frameworks and improving coordination between nations on shared challenges.
Following the summit in Lyon, the Ghanaian leader is expected to travel to Paris for bilateral talks at the Élysée Palace with President Macron. The discussions are expected to cover areas of mutual interest, including economic cooperation, investment partnerships, climate related initiatives, and enhanced collaboration in health systems strengthening. France has maintained longstanding diplomatic and development ties with several African countries, and Ghana’s engagement is seen as part of a broader effort to deepen strategic partnerships between Africa and Europe.
The One Health Summit itself comes at a time when global health systems are under pressure from multiple fronts, including emerging infectious diseases, food insecurity and climate related disruptions. International agencies such as the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization have consistently emphasised the need for integrated approaches that move beyond traditional sector based responses. The summit aims to translate these principles into coordinated action among governments and institutions.
For Ghana, participation at this level offers both diplomatic visibility and policy relevance. It provides an opportunity to contribute to global conversations while also attracting attention to domestic priorities such as health system resilience, agricultural transformation and environmental sustainability. It also reinforces the country’s growing engagement in multilateral platforms that address cross border challenges.
President Mahama’s visit is therefore not only ceremonial but strategic, positioning Ghana within ongoing global efforts to reshape how health and development challenges are managed in an increasingly interconnected world. The outcomes of the summit and subsequent bilateral engagements are expected to inform future cooperation frameworks between Ghana and its international partners.
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