President Mahama Calls For Stronger Health Systems in Africa

President John Dramani Mahama has called on African countries to reduce their dependence on foreign aid and begin building stronger health systems that can survive global funding cuts and future health crises.

Speaking at the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, Mahama said the time has come for African countries to take control of their healthcare systems instead of relying heavily on support from donor countries.

“We’re not in Geneva to mourn aid cuts but to build health sovereignty,” Mahama said during his keynote address.

His comments come at a time when many African countries are facing pressure on their health sectors due to cuts in international support.

Mahama revealed that Ghana alone has lost about $78 million following the suspension of some United States aid programs.

He warned that continued reductions in aid could push between 5 and 7 million Africans into poverty by 2026.

But instead of focusing only on the losses, Mahama used the global platform to push for what he described as a new direction for Africa’s health future, one where countries invest more in their own systems, produce more medicines locally, and prepare better for disease outbreaks.

Mahama said Africa’s heavy dependence on imported medicines and vaccines became a major problem during global emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Seventy per cent of pharmaceuticals in Africa are imported, and ninety per cent of vaccines are imported,” he said while stressing that African countries must begin producing more medical supplies themselves.

Mahama also introduced what he called a three-pillar reform plan aimed at improving global health systems and helping countries respond faster to future health emergencies.

The proposal includes stronger disease monitoring systems, better investment in healthcare, and stronger cooperation between countries.

He further argued that health challenges can no longer be separated from issues such as climate change, food insecurity, and environmental destruction.

“At the foundation of all these crises is the phenomenon of climate change; everything is interconnected,” he said.

His speech adds Ghana’s voice to growing calls across Africa for countries to become less dependent on foreign support and build healthcare systems that can stand on their own during global crises.