Mahama calls for stronger Global South partnerships to build self-sustaining health systems
Story by: Regina Bless
President John Dramani Mahama has called for stronger partnerships among countries in the Global South to build self-sustaining health systems capable of meeting national and regional needs.
Speaking at the Accra Reset’s Full Circle event in New York on September 21, 2026, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, President Mahama launched the High-Level Panel report, “A Sovereign Future for Health.” The report proposes reforms aimed at strengthening national and regional capacity in health financing, research, manufacturing, procurement and governance.
President Mahama said Ghana and other developing countries should work with strategic partners across Africa, Brazil, India, Indonesia and the Gulf to establish networks that connect research, regulatory oversight, local manufacturing and reliable distribution.
“This sovereign health agenda is not a retreat into isolationism,” President Mahama said.
He argued that greater health sovereignty should instead be built around cooperation between countries with complementary capabilities. The approach would allow countries to strengthen their own systems while maintaining international partnerships and sharing knowledge, technology and resources.
The Accra Reset report outlines 10 recommendations, including sustainable health financing, stronger regional institutions, regional pharmaceutical manufacturing, improved procurement systems, equitable health innovation and independent accountability mechanisms.
President Mahama also linked the initiative to Ghana’s domestic health agenda, including efforts to strengthen local pharmaceutical manufacturing and reduce excessive dependence on imported essential medicines. He said local production should be supported by government procurement and access to regional markets.
The President stressed that the next stage of the Accra Reset should move beyond policy declarations toward implementation, with governments, development finance institutions, global health organisations, philanthropies and private-sector partners working together on practical programmes.
The initiative’s proposed approach is therefore not to withdraw from global cooperation, but to develop stronger national and regional capabilities while building more equal and accountable international partnerships.