President John Dramani Mahama has called on African countries to increase their investments in the health sector, stressing that improved healthcare financing is critical to enhancing living standards and driving sustainable economic development across the continent.
Delivering his keynote address at the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva on Monday, May 18, the President emphasised that health expenditure should no longer be treated merely as a social welfare responsibility, but rather as a strategic investment essential for national productivity and long-term growth.
The World Health Assembly, which is the highest decision-making body of the World Health Organisation (WHO), brought together global health leaders, policymakers, and development partners to deliberate on pressing global health challenges, financing gaps, and the future of international health systems.
In his address, President Mahama argued that African governments must rethink their budgetary priorities and commit more resources to strengthening healthcare systems, noting that the well-being of citizens is directly linked to economic performance and national development outcomes.
“We must see health spending as an investment rather than just a social obligation because a healthy population is indispensable to economic progress.
“As an advocate for African health sovereignty, I am obliged to demonstrate this practically at home, and so in Ghana, we have moved beyond rhetoric to implement calculated and aggressive policies that place the citizens at the centre of the clinical encounter.
“With one of the most successful health insurance schemes in Africa, Ghana has an insurance coverage estimated at 66 percent as of the end of 2025, and this still leaves about 34 percent of our population without coverage.”
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