President John Dramani Mahama has challenged African leaders to abandon the outdated mindset that health expenditure is a drain on national economies.
The President described health not as a consumption cost, but as an investment with massive returns and a game-changer for economic productivity, social equity, and national development.
Speaking at the Africa Health Sovereignty Summit in Accra, he indicated that the outdated notion that health drains our economies must be rejected.
He said, “In truth, health is the engine of productivity and the bedrock of inclusive growth.”
According to the President, every cedi spent on health is an investment in human capital, workforce efficiency, and future national wealth.
Citing research from the World Health Organization, he emphasized that for every $1 invested in health resilience, up to $4 is returned, and even more in Africa due to its youthful population and latent economic potential.
“Every malaria case prevented is a day of work regained. Every maternal death avoided is a family stabilised. Every vaccinated child is a future secured,” the President said, painting a practical picture of health’s direct connection to productivity.
Rethinking the Numbers: Health as Capital, Not Consumption
President Mahama called on economists and finance ministers across the continent to revise the way national accounts are calculated, treating health as a capital investment, not just a social sector expense.
He insisted that it’s time national budgets reflect the true economic value of health. He noted that Africa cannot continue to present health allocations as giveaways. They are growth enablers.
This reframing, according to the President, is critical for unlocking local and international funding, driving innovation, and ensuring that health remains at the centre of Africa’s development strategy.
Ghana’s New Approach
To show it’s not just rhetoric, Mahama announced the uncapping of Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). This is a reform expected to free up over GHS 3.5 billion in additional health financing.
This major move expands fiscal space for health coverage, enabling better access to care, deeper service delivery, and broader insurance enrollment. It’s a clear signal that Ghana is putting its money where its mouth is.
He also highlighted the launch of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (MahamaCares)—a public-private initiative targeting chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and kidney failure. This fund will pool capital from the government, private sector, and philanthropists to tackle the long-term economic burdens of non-communicable diseases.
Practical, Grassroots-Led Solutions
President Mahama revealed plans to roll out a national Primary Healthcare Programme supported by the recruitment of community health volunteers.
This initiative aims to strengthen preventive care, reduce long-term treatment costs, and ensure early intervention, especially in rural and underserved communities.
Why This Matters Economically
Africa loses billions of dollars annually in productivity due to preventable diseases. Employers face rising healthcare bills. Families lose breadwinners. Young people lose years of learning. The economy loses precious time and talent.
Investing in health is, he says its therefore not charity, but sound economics.
Mahama’s bold reframe of health as economic infrastructure comes at a time when African countries are rethinking post-COVID development priorities. His words are a clear challenge to the continent: if you want to grow your economy, grow your people’s health first.
A Summit for Action
The Accra Health Sovereignty Summit brought together an elite roster of African leaders and global experts, including former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Mauritius’ Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, and WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The summit was an event that rallied African countries and the rest of the world to reimagine health systems as drivers of economic transformation.
