Former President John Dramani Mahama has declared that Africa must achieve 'health sovereignty' to stop depending on foreign aid for its healthcare needs. He made this strong call on Monday at the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. The former president warned that Africa can no longer rely on old ways of receiving help from other countries. Global aid for health has been significantly cut. This has shown how weak Africa's health systems are. Health sovereignty means countries control their own health and resources.
Mr. Mahama explained that this new focus on health sovereignty is necessary because global health funding is shrinking. He pointed out that Ghana lost about $78 million when programs funded by USAID, a United States aid agency, closed in 2025. These cuts are not unique to Ghana. Other African countries are also facing serious problems. In South Africa, funding cuts have reportedly hurt HIV treatment services. They have also affected programs that help victims of gender-based violence. Mr. Mahama predicted a grim future if changes are not made soon. He cited estimates that nine million preventable deaths could happen globally by 2030 due to less aid.
This situation fits into a larger economic picture for Ghana and Africa. For years, many African nations have relied heavily on foreign aid for development. This includes healthcare. However, aid budgets in developed countries have been tightening. This trend puts pressure on countries like Ghana. The Ghanaian government has been trying to increase domestic funding for health. For example, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) coverage reached 66 percent by the end of 2025. Removing a spending limit on the health insurance fund also freed up GHS 3 billion for health investments. This shows a move towards more self-funding.
Mr. Mahama stated that the current global health system is not working well. He called it broken, bogged down by rules, and unable to handle emergencies. "We do not come to Geneva to mourn the past. We come to build a future where a country’s health is not a byproduct of charity, but a result of sovereign capability," he told the Assembly. He stressed that Africa produces less than one percent of the world's vaccines but handles twenty-five percent of global diseases. This imbalance shows a lack of control and vulnerability.
The call for health sovereignty means African countries must build their own capacity. They need to be able to pay for healthcare themselves. They also need to manufacture essential medicines locally. This reduces reliance on outside donors. For Ghana, key initiatives include the Free Primary Healthcare Programme. Reforms to the NHIS and the launch of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, also known as MahamaCares, aim to support patients with long-term illnesses. Ghana's 2026 budget allocated GHS 34 billion to health. This spending aims to cover 20 million people. Mr. Mahama urged global leaders to focus on real action, like building local factories and strong supply chains, rather than just talking at conferences.