Geneva: President John Dramani Mahama has called for a new global health order anchored on self-reliance, equity, and sovereign capacity. Speaking at the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA) Meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, President Mahama emphasized the uncertainty surrounding global health cooperation and reform due to shifting geopolitics and deliberate assaults on multilateral systems.
According to Ghana News Agency, President Mahama highlighted that six years after the COVID-19 pandemic, the world health architecture is undergoing rapid changes. The President noted a 40 percent decline in humanitarian assistance and significant cuts in overseas development assistance from some of the largest Western economies. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also faced financial challenges due to the withdrawal of United States assistance, leading to scaled-down programs and staff reductions.
In Ghana, President Mahama reported a significant decrease in health financing from bilateral and multilateral partners since 2025, resulting in a loss of $78 million following the closure of USAID programs. These funds were primarily allocated to malaria, maternal and child health, nutrition, and HIV/AIDS programs.
President Mahama also addressed the impact of funding withdrawals in South Africa, where the sudden cessation of PEPFAR funding led to the closure of clinics and termination of gender-based violence programs, affecting 1.4 million people living with HIV. He warned that by 2030, nine million preventable deaths could occur due to these shifts and estimated that the aid suspension could push 5.7 million Africans into poverty by the end of 2026.
The President reiterated that these challenges motivated the convening of the African Health Sovereignty Conference, known as the Accra Reset, in August 2025. He emphasized the need for a health architecture fit for purpose and aimed to continue saving lives amidst adversity.
President Mahama highlighted Ghana's achievements, including a successful National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) with an estimated coverage of 66 percent by the end of 2025. To extend coverage, Ghana has implemented a Free Primary Health Care Programme, ensuring rural and urban citizens have equal access to quality health care.
The WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, acknowledged Ghana's milestone and emphasized the meeting's theme, "Reshaping global health: a shared responsibility." Dr. Ghebreyesus praised President Mahama's leadership with the Accra Reset initiative, aiming to reform the global health architecture by bringing together existing initiatives.