ACCRA, Ghana, 22nd July: President John Dramani Mahama has officially opened the African Union Extraordinary Summit on Health at the Alisa Hotel in Accra, as Ghana hosts a landmark gathering focused on transforming healthcare delivery across the African continent.
The high-level summit has brought together African Heads of State and Government, policymakers, health experts, development partners and other key stakeholders to forge a common agenda for achieving equitable, accessible and resilient healthcare systems for all Africans.
Held under the theme, “Advancing Justice, Equity and Universal Health Coverage: Ending AIDS, TB, Improving Maternal Health, Addressing Endemic Non-Communicable and Neglected Tropical Diseases and Conditions in Africa,”.
The summit aims to galvanise political commitment and accelerate collective action towards ending AIDS and tuberculosis by 2030, reducing preventable maternal and child deaths, combating the rising burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, and strengthening health systems across the continent.
Delivering the keynote address, President Mahama urged African leaders to move beyond narratives of crisis and focus on practical, home-grown solutions that will build sustainable and resilient health systems capable of serving future generations.
He noted that although Africa continues to bear the world’s highest HIV burden, AIDS-related deaths have declined significantly in recent years, demonstrating that sustained political commitment, investment and collaboration can produce measurable results.
The President also highlighted the progress made in the fight against tuberculosis, stating that both infection rates and deaths have fallen due to effective interventions, improved access to treatment and stronger partnerships.
On malaria, however, President Mahama cautioned that the disease remains one of Africa’s greatest public health challenges, particularly for children.
He warned that climate change is expanding mosquito breeding grounds and increasing transmission, making it imperative for African countries to intensify prevention, surveillance and treatment efforts.
He further stressed that Africa’s health security must be built on stronger local institutions, increased domestic financing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, research and innovation, rather than excessive dependence on external support.
The Extraordinary Summit is expected to conclude with renewed political commitments and concrete strategies to advance universal health coverage, promote health equity and improve access to quality healthcare, reaffirming Africa’s collective determination to build healthier, more resilient and self-reliant societies.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️)/ Presidential Affairs Correspondent | Ghana 🇬🇭