President John Dramani Mahama has held a series of high-level bilateral meetings in Brussels, Belgium, ahead of the Gavi Vaccine Alliance pledging session, where he is expected to play a key advocacy role.

Among the prominent figures he engaged were the Gavi Board Chair and former European Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, as well as American billionaire and philanthropist, Mr. Bill Gates.

In his meeting with Mr. Barroso, President Mahama was commended for his unwavering support for Gavi’s vaccine replenishment efforts over the years.

Mr. Barroso expressed the alliance’s appreciation for Mahama’s continued advocacy and noted that his voice would be instrumental in rallying global support during the pledging session.

President Mahama also held substantive talks with Mr. Gates, focusing on Ghana’s healthcare advancements and the future of public health delivery.

Their discussions centred on the implementation of Ghana’s Free Primary Healthcare programme, progress made by the newly established National Vaccine Institute, and the positive impact of removing the cap on the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIS), which has improved funding for healthcare delivery.

President Mahama expressed gratitude to Mr. Gates and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for their longstanding philanthropic work in Ghana, especially in the health and education sectors.

He also praised the foundation’s vital contributions to the Gavi Vaccine Alliance, which continues to play a transformative role in strengthening immunisation programmes across developing countries.

President Mahama is scheduled to participate in the upcoming pledging session, where global leaders and partners will commit resources to sustain life-saving vaccine programmes for vulnerable populations worldwide.