Accra: Experts have urged African countries to invest in genomics and precision medicine to address the continent's growing burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). The call was made during a webinar on the theme: 'Genomics and NCDs: Toward African-Led Precision Medicine - Shaping the Future of African Health.'
According to Ghana News Agency, Professor Nasser Laouali, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic in Morocco, emphasized that Africa's response to NCDs must be driven by African-led genomic research and stronger regional collaboration. He highlighted the emerging health partnership between Ghana and Morocco as a model for advancing Africa's health sovereignty.
NCDs, which include cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes, account for more than 80 percent of NCD-related deaths worldwide. Prof. Laouali warned of a 'silent health crisis' in Africa, with about one in four adults living with multimorbidity. By 2030, deaths from NCDs are expected to surpass those from communicable, maternal, and nutritional diseases combined.
Prof. Laouali stressed that genomic sovereignty-the ability of African countries to generate, own, and use their genetic data-is critical for sustainable disease prevention through precision medicine. Despite Africa's vast genetic diversity, the continent contributes only about two percent of data in global genomic databases, leaving many Africans underserved by healthcare solutions not tailored to their genetic profiles.
Integrating genomic information into public health systems could support early disease detection, identify at-risk populations, and enable personalized treatments tailored to African populations. Prof. Laouali highlighted the Ghana-Morocco partnership as an exemplar of leveraging complementary strengths, such as Ghana's strong clinical expertise and Morocco's investment in genomic infrastructure.
The partnership includes researcher exchanges, postgraduate training in artificial intelligence and genomic sequencing, and collaborative research on cancer and neurological diseases. It is part of seven bilateral agreements signed between Ghana and Morocco in July 2026 to deepen cooperation in healthcare, scientific research, and pharmaceutical development.
Prof. Laouali also referenced President John Dramani Mahama's call for greater health sovereignty amid declining international health financing. Several African countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia, have adopted national genomics strategies, with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention promoting genomics as a key pillar of the continent's health security agenda.
He concluded by stating that the future of precision medicine must be built in Africa, by Africans, for African populations. With NCDs rising rapidly due to factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, and alcohol use, the push for prevention and African-led precision medicine is seen as crucial to addressing the growing burden.