President John Dramani Mahama has called for bold and coordinated efforts at all levels to transform Africa’s health systems and build resilience in the face of 21st-century challenges.

Speaking at the Africa Health Sovereignty Summit in Accra, President Mahama delivered a stirring address urging African nations and development partners to move decisively from planning to implementation.

He outlined a comprehensive roadmap for health transformation, emphasising that the time for rhetoric is over and that decisive action is now required to ensure Africa can respond effectively to emerging health threats and systemic inequalities.

On the global front, President Mahama advocated for a new, inclusive health governance framework—one that is democratic, just, and reflective of a multipolar, digitally connected, and climate-vulnerable world.

He warned that current international structures and diminishing global support are inadequate to meet the continent’s pressing health needs, stressing that outdated systems continue to perpetuate deep-rooted inequalities.

At the regional level, he urged African leaders to scale up and strengthen African-led institutions such as the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the African Medicines Agency, and the implementation of health corridors under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

He also threw his weight behind the AUDA-NEPAD resilience agenda, describing these as vital tools for securing Africa’s health sovereignty.

Turning to the national level, President Mahama emphasised the need for strong political will, increased domestic financing, and committed leadership to turn plans into reality.

He stressed that African countries must prioritise execution and deliver measurable outcomes for their citizens.

He also highlighted the critical role of homegrown innovations, urging African governments to support local research, manufacturing, and accountability systems that enhance health security and self-sufficiency.

President Mahama concluded with a strong call for African health sovereignty, warning that the current era—marked by global instability and compounding crises—demands self-reliance more than ever before.

“We are living in a time of deep disruption,” he said, “and overlapping crises are exposing the fragility of global systems. Africa must take charge of its health future.”