Ahead of the opening of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, President John Dramani Mahama on Monday joined his counterparts at a high-level Africa CDC meeting of heads of state and government in New York.

The gathering, themed 'Securing Africa’s Health Sovereignty: Political Leadership for Sustainable Health Financing, Local Manufacturing, and Pandemic Preparedness', explored strategies to strengthen the continent’s health systems and reduce dependency on external aid.

President Mahama, who chaired the session, emphasised that Africa must take ownership of its health security.

“Health is not a cost. It is the engine of productivity and the foundation of sovereignty,” he told the gathering.

Contributions from Other Leaders

Other African leaders and representatives acknowledged the threats posed by declining donor support, particularly the recent $8 billion cut in U.S. health funding and similar reductions by European partners. They agreed that the continent must prioritize domestic investment in health, ensure transparency, and break the cycle of dependency.

Key outcomes from the meeting included:

* Drug manufacturing commitment: Leaders resolved to pool resources to establish pharmaceutical manufacturing hubs, with a target of producing at least 60% of Africa’s medical needs by 2040.

* Learning from global examples: They cited India’s thriving pharmaceutical industry, with more than 10,000 manufacturing firms, as a model Africa can match if countries coordinate efforts — reducing costs while creating jobs.

* Harmonised regulations: Agreement to streamline regulatory frameworks and work closely with global partners such as GAVI, the World Bank, and the WHO.

* Pandemic preparedness: Africa CDC reported ongoing investments in training, operational centers, and surveillance systems, including digital tools to strengthen early detection and response against diseases like Mpox, Dengue fever, Ebola, and Cholera.

* Policy framework adoption: The meeting adopted a policy framework, supported by GAVI and endorsed by the WHO Director-General, with follow-up discussions planned on the sidelines of the UNGA.

* MoUs for local production: Countries also agreed to sign memoranda of understanding that will allow each nation to produce health products for African use.

| Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh

| Chief of Staff Julius Debrah

Praise for Accra Summit

President Mahama received commendation for hosting the Accra Health Sovereignty Summit last month, which participants said had revived momentum following earlier agreements such as the Abidjan Declaration and the Lusaka Agreement.

He also highlighted Ghana’s interventions, including the unblocking of the National Health Insurance Fund, which has restored GHS3.5 billion ($300 million) to the sector, and new initiatives under the forthcoming Big Push programme to expand investments in health.

Mahama’s Call to Action

Taking over as Chair of the Africa CDC Committee of Heads of State and Government, President Mahama urged increased commitment and direct engagement with potential investors and donors through stronger advocacy.

“As the world steps back, let Africa step forward. Let us invest in our people’s health by investing in our health systems. The time is now,” he said.