Accra: African leaders, policymakers, and global health stakeholders will converge in Accra for a landmark summit on health sovereignty, convened by the Ghanaian President, John Dramani Mahama. The Africa Health Sovereignty Summit, themed 'The Accra Initiative: African Health Sovereignty in a Reimagined Global Health Governance Architecture', is set to take place on August 5. This event is anticipated to mark a pivotal moment in advancing Africa-led reforms in global health governance.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, a statement signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, spokesperson to the President, highlighted that the summit will unveil the 'Accra Initiative'. Ofosu described the initiative as a bold action plan aimed at promoting national ownership, investment, and leadership in the continent's health systems. Despite progress in global health, such as a significant reduction in child and maternal mortality rates, he pointed out that shifting geopolitics, dwindling donor funds, and emerging threats have revealed significant flaws in the current health architecture.
Ofosu emphasized that the summit represents an opportunity for African nations to take the lead not only in financing their health systems but also in reshaping the rules governing global health to better reflect the voices and realities of African people. Key expected outcomes of the event include the endorsement of the Accra Compact, which outlines Africa's vision for equitable global health governance.
The summit will also see the launch of the SUSTAIN Initiative, which aims to support domestic investment-driven health systems. Additionally, there will be the formation of a Presidential High-Level Panel tasked with designing a reform roadmap and a commitment to developing inclusive, accountable, and resilient health systems. The summit draws inspiration from President Mahama's leadership during the 2014 Ebola crisis, further solidifying his role in advancing health initiatives across the continent.