President John Dramani Mahama has called for a new global health order centered on self-reliance and strong national capacity. He spoke at the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. Mahama stated that global health cooperation faces uncertainty due to shifting world politics.
Humanitarian assistance globally has decreased by 40 percent. Some large Western economies have cut their overseas development aid. The World Health Organisation's (WHO) budget suffered from US aid withdrawal. This led to programme reductions and staff layoffs. Ghana has seen a significant drop in health financing from partners since 2025. The nation lost $78 million from the closure of USAID programmes.
This funding supported key areas like malaria prevention. It also covered maternal and child health. Nutrition and HIV/AIDS programmes were also affected. In South Africa, PEPFAR funding cuts closed clinics. Gender-based violence programmes were terminated. This left 1.4 million people with HIV uncertain about treatment continuity. Nine million preventable deaths could occur by 2030 due to these shifts. About 5.7 million Africans could fall into poverty by the end of 2026 from aid suspension.
This grim outlook prompted the African Health Sovereignty Conference in August 2025. It was known as the Accra Reset. Mahama noted that the current global health architecture might not be fit for purpose. He emphasized the need to save lives despite these challenges. His current tenure as President aims at transformation, not just administration.
Mahama spoke of Africa often being a subject of global health policy. He is an advocate for the Accra Reset Initiative. This movement pushes for health sovereignty over dependency. Ghana has one of Africa's most successful National Health Insurance Schemes. Its coverage reached 66 percent by the end of 2025. About 34 percent of the population remained without cover.
To reach those still uncovered, Ghana launched its Free Primary Health Care Programme. This programme removes financial barriers to essential services, especially in rural areas. Citizens in remote regions now have better access to quality healthcare. The WHO, led by Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, congratulated Ghana on this achievement. Ghana's National Health Insurance Scheme has been revitalised. The removal of the cap on the health insurance fund freed up an additional GHS 3 billion. This sum is equivalent to $300 million for healthcare investment.
NHIS operations were streamlined. Bottlenecks were eliminated using digital tools. Artificial intelligence helps detect fraudulent claims. Prompt refunds to service providers are now a priority. Trust between the state and healthcare providers is crucial for the NHIS's strength. Ghana also launched the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, or MahamaCares. This fund confronts non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
MahamaCares supports those with conditions like cardiovascular disease. It also helps with cancers, liver disease, and renal failures. These conditions were often a death sentence for the poor. The fund ensures specialized, high-cost care is a right, not a privilege. Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, stated the assembly's goal. It aims to consolidate existing reforms for global health architecture. The theme for this year's World Health Assembly is "Reshaping global health: a shared responsibility." Dr. Ghebreyesus acknowledged President Mahama's decisive leadership in launching the Accra Reset.