Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has called on private sector partners to collaborate with African governments to advance the continent’s health industrialisation, emphasising shared investment, innovation, and self-reliance as the foundations for the continent’s future healthcare transformation.
Speaking at the opening of the World Health Expo Leaders Africa Summit in Accra, President Mahama urged vaccine manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, and biotechnology firms to strengthen their engagement with African nations through co-investment and technology transfer. He underscored that Africa must no longer be defined by dependency but by partnerships grounded in mutual growth and respect.
Mahama stated that Africa is actively seeking to build vaccine production hubs across the continent, alongside the expansion of pharmaceutical and biologics manufacturing capabilities. He encouraged global industry leaders to participate in developing diagnostic facilities, medical device assembly plants, and research and development centres across Africa. According to him, these initiatives would not only strengthen healthcare delivery but also stimulate local economies and create skilled employment opportunities for the continent’s growing youth population.
Reflecting on the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mahama noted that Africa’s delayed access to vaccines and essential medical supplies revealed systemic vulnerabilities that must be addressed through homegrown solutions. “Africa can no longer afford to be the last in line when global health crises emerge,” he said. “We must build our own capacity to produce, innovate, and respond effectively to the health needs of our people.”
The president also highlighted the strategic significance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a unified market of approximately 1.3 billion people. He described the agreement as a vital framework for facilitating cross-border collaboration in health innovation and manufacturing. Mahama further pointed to the African Medicines Agency as a key institution in harmonising regulatory standards and strengthening the continent’s pharmaceutical governance.
Mahama expressed optimism about the ingenuity and creativity of young African innovators, artificial intelligence developers, and medical technology entrepreneurs. He said their contributions are central to redefining Africa’s healthcare future and ensuring that digital health ecosystems are designed around African contexts and needs.
The summit, attended by health ministers, policy experts, and representatives from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), convened under the theme of advancing sustainable healthcare partnerships for a resilient Africa. Delegates explored strategies for improving health infrastructure, boosting innovation in biotechnology, and ensuring equitable access to essential medicines.
Across the continent, countries such as Senegal, Rwanda, and South Africa are already investing in vaccine manufacturing and biotechnology facilities, setting precedents for regional collaboration. Initiatives supported by the African Union and international partners, such as the Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM), have laid the groundwork for expanding domestic production and reducing import dependence.
President Mahama’s remarks align with a broader African effort to establish a health sovereignty agenda that is both economically empowering and ethically grounded. His call reflects a shift in the continental discourse—from one of aid dependence to one of strategic co-investment and partnership built on equity and shared values.
By framing Africa’s health industrialisation as both an economic and human development imperative, Mahama underscored the continent’s determination to shape its own narrative and redefine global perceptions of its capacity and potential.
The World Health Expo Leaders Africa Summit continues to position Africa not merely as a recipient of innovation, but as an active architect of its own future in global health governance.
