President John Dramani Mahama has called for decisive global action to address rising and interconnected health threats at the One Health Summit in Lyon, France.

Speaking at the high-level gathering, President Mahama warned that the world is confronting increasingly complex challenges affecting human, animal, and environmental health.

He attributed these risks largely to climate change, ecosystem degradation, and pollution.

Drawing on Ghana’s experience, he highlighted the impact of illegal mining and disease outbreaks on agriculture and biodiversity, stressing the need for a more coordinated and preventive approach to health management.

The President underscored the relevance of the One Health approach, which links human, animal, and environmental health, noting that it reflects Africa’s traditional systems rooted in prevention and harmony with nature.

He observed that recent outbreaks, including COVID-19 and Lassa fever, have demonstrated that prevention is more effective and cost-efficient than treatment.

He added that Ghana is strengthening its preventive healthcare systems through new initiatives.

President Mahama also expressed concern over the growing burden of Non-Communicable Diseases, which he said account for 42 percent of deaths in Ghana.

He called for equitable access to funding, technology, and innovation, particularly for vulnerable countries, and emphasized that Africa’s health is critical to global progress.

The President urged world leaders to move beyond commitments to concrete action by integrating the One Health approach into development strategies and investing in robust surveillance and early warning systems to better manage future health threats.