African leaders at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) have lauded President John Dramani Mahama for spearheading the Africa Health Sovereignty Summit in Accra, describing it as a turning point in efforts to build self-reliance in healthcare across the continent.
At the Committee of Heads of State and Government of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) meeting, held on the sidelines of UNGA 80 and attended by the Director General of the World Health Organisation, leaders endorsed plans to establish regional pharmaceutical manufacturing hubs.
The initiative targets producing 60% of Africa’s drug needs locally by 2040, a move aimed at reducing costs and creating jobs while cutting reliance on external supply chains.
Africa is facing sharp funding cuts from traditional partners, with an estimated £8 billion reduction from the United States alone. Leaders argued that the situation underscored the urgency of building resilient, homegrown health systems.
Drawing lessons from India’s pharmaceutical success, the proposed hubs are expected to anchor industrial growth, drive employment, and ensure the continent is better prepared for future health crises.
President Mahama outlined Ghana’s domestic reforms, including the uncapping of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to expand universal access and the upcoming “Big Push” initiative, designed to channel significant new investments into the country’s health sector from next year.
The summit, which set the tone for these commitments, was widely described by African leaders as a “visionary” intervention that has re-energised discussions on health self-sufficiency and resilience at a critical moment for the continent.
