President John Dramani Mahama has declared that the era of heavy donor dependency in Africa’s healthcare sector is coming to an end, calling on African countries to build stronger and more self-reliant health systems.
Speaking at the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, President Mahama said recent cuts in humanitarian assistance and overseas development aid should serve as a wake-up call for governments across the continent.
“These cuts in humanitarian assistance and ODA, senseless as they are, serve as the final clear signal that the old system of donor dependency is past its sell-by date,” he stated.
The President noted that he was addressing the Assembly not only as Ghana’s leader but also as an advocate of the Accra Reset Initiative, which seeks to promote African health sovereignty and reduce dependence on external support.
“We do not come to Geneva to mourn the past. We come to build the future, where a country’s health is not a byproduct of charity, but the result of sovereign capability,” he said.
According to Mr. Mahama, despite the increasing number of global health organisations over the years, healthcare delivery at the national level remains fragmented and unsustainable in many African countries.
He therefore urged African leaders to begin treating healthcare expenditure as a strategic economic investment rather than merely a social obligation.
“A healthy population is indispensable to economic progress,” he stressed.
The President’s remarks come at a time when several African countries are grappling with funding shortfalls in critical public health programmes following reductions in international aid support, particularly from Western nations.
The World Health Assembly, organised by the World Health Organization, brings together world leaders, health ministers, and policymakers to deliberate on global health priorities and strategies.
Mr. Mahama’s comments are expected to reignite discussions around healthcare financing, domestic resource mobilisation, and Africa’s readiness to sustain key health interventions without heavy reliance on foreign assistance.
READ ALSO:
Annoh-Dompreh petitions Mahama over dumsor, cocoa prices and food shortages
Security forces intercept large cache of ammunition in Nkwanta, arrest two suspects
