African leaders, policymakers, and global health stakeholders will gather in Accra on August 5 for the Africa Health Sovereignty Summit, spearheaded by Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama.
Themed “The Accra Initiative: African Health Sovereignty in a Reimagined Global Health Governance Architecture”, the summit is poised to reshape the continent’s role in global health policy.
Central to the discussions is the unveiling of the Accra Initiative—an ambitious framework promoting national ownership, investment, and leadership in African health systems. The summit is expected to culminate in the adoption of the Accra Compact, articulating Africa’s collective vision for a more equitable and responsive global health order.
According to presidential spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the gathering is a strategic response to growing challenges, including dwindling donor support, shifting geopolitical dynamics, and emerging health threats, all of which have exposed critical weaknesses in existing global health structures. In addition to the Accra Compact, the event will launch the SUSTAIN Initiative to strengthen domestic investment in health, and establish a Presidential High-Level Panel to chart a comprehensive reform roadmap. Inspired by President Mahama’s leadership during the 2014 Ebola outbreak and bolstered by initiatives from President Paul Kagame and the African Union, the summit aims to foster inclusive, accountable, and resilient health systems across Africa.