President John Dramani Mahama has unveiled a new initiative aimed at transforming global health governance and reducing Africa’s long-standing dependence on externally controlled healthcare systems.

Speaking at the 79th World Health Assembly on Monday, May 18, President Mahama said countries in the Global South must be empowered to independently finance healthcare, produce essential medicines and manage their own health data to build stronger and more resilient health systems.

According to him, the existing global health framework places significant administrative pressure on developing countries, with many health officials dedicating more time to donor reporting obligations instead of focusing on healthcare delivery at the local level.

The President argued that the expansion of international health institutions has not always translated into improved healthcare outcomes for vulnerable populations.

As part of efforts to address the situation, President Mahama announced the launch of the “Accra Reset” initiative, which will be supported by a Presidential Council comprising leaders from countries in the Global South.

He explained that the initiative is intended to drive practical reforms in global health financing and governance.

According to the President, the programme will operate through three major pillars.

The first is a High-Level Panel on Reform made up of independent international experts tasked with reviewing and assessing the effectiveness of the current global health system.

The second component, known as the Reform Interlocking Observatory, will focus on aligning the strategies of major global health institutions, including the World Health Organization, GAVI and the The Global Fund, to reduce policy inconsistencies affecting countries at the local level.

President Mahama said the third pillar, the Health Investment National Gateway, also known as HINGE, will serve as an implementation platform aimed at translating political commitments into concrete investments in pharmaceutical manufacturing, bioinnovation and broader healthcare infrastructure.

He noted that the initiative is designed to help African countries strengthen control over their healthcare systems while gradually reducing reliance on external support.