African leaders, policymakers, and global health stakeholders will converge in Accra, Ghana, on August 5 for a landmark summit on health sovereignty, convened by former Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama.
The event, titled the Africa Health Sovereignty Summit, is themed: “The Accra Initiative: African Health Sovereignty in a Reimagined Global Health Governance Architecture.”
The summit is expected to mark a pivotal step toward advancing Africa-led reforms in global health governance.
According to a statement signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, spokesperson to the President, and made available to journalists on Sunday in Abuja, the summit will unveil the “Accra Initiative”.
Ofosu described the Accra Initiative as a bold action plan aimed at promoting national ownership, investment, and leadership in the continent’s health systems.
He noted that, while there have been notable advancements in global health such as a 50 per cent reduction in child mortality since 1990 and a 40 per cent decline in maternal deaths since 2000 shifting geopolitics, declining donor funding, and emerging threats have exposed serious flaws in the current global health framework.
“This Summit is our moment to lead, not only in financing our systems, but also in reshaping the rules that govern global health—rules that must reflect the voices and realities of our people,” Ofosu stated.
He added that key expected outcomes of the summit include the endorsement of the Accra Compact, which outlines Africa’s vision for equitable global health governance.“There will be the launch of the SUSTAIN Initiative, to support domestic investment-driven health systems,” he said.
“The summit will also lead to the formation of a Presidential High-Level Panel to design a reform roadmap, and a strong commitment to building inclusive, accountable, and resilient health systems.”
Reports indicate that the summit draws inspiration from President Mahama’s leadership during the 2014 Ebola crisis, and builds on the work of Rwanda’s President, Paul Kagame, as well as the African Union, in strengthening health financing and coordination across the continent.
