WHX LEADERS 2025: “Africa must be a participant in shaping its future” - Prez. Mahama

Accra came alive on December 9 as more than 300 health leaders—including ministers, investors, global CEOs and innovators—converged for the WHX Leaders Africa Summit under the theme “Catalysing Africa’s Health Revolution.”

The atmosphere brimmed with optimism as continental and global stakeholders gathered to chart a new course for Africa’s health sector.

Addressing participants, President John Dramani Mahama called for a decisive shift in Africa’s approach to healthcare, urging governments and the private sector to work together to build systems capable of meeting the continent’s needs.

“We cannot be bystanders,” Mahama declared.

“Africa must be a participant in shaping its future.”

He emphasized that his administration’s unwavering commitment to health is what led to the creation of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund—MahamaCare, a bold initiative designed to support people living with chronic non-communicable diseases such as cancer, stroke, cardiovascular disease and kidney failure.

Mr. Mahama explained that the fund will offer financial assistance for treatments and medications not covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), closing a longstanding gap that has left many vulnerable patients without adequate care.

He described the initiative as a crucial step toward building “a more inclusive and resilient health system” that guarantees equitable access regardless of income or location.

President Mahama also lamented Africa’s heavy dependence on foreign manufacturers for medical supplies and equipment—a vulnerability exposed sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It takes a pandemic for Africa to discover that it has no health security,” he said.

He urged African governments to forge stronger partnerships with the private sector to develop local industries that can manufacture essential healthcare equipment and reduce the continent’s reliance on imports.

Ghana’s Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, reinforced the call for action.

“We are not here to talk about the future—we are here to build it,” he told delegates, stressing that collaboration and investment are indispensable to achieving sustainable progress across Africa’s health landscape.

The summit’s exhibition hall showcased the continent’s growing potential, with Siemens Healthineers, Pfizer, the Gates Foundation and several emerging innovators unveiling technologies ranging from AI-powered diagnostic tools to portable laboratories and locally produced vaccines.

By the end of the day, new memorandums of understanding had been signed, investment commitments made and a roadmap drafted to advance digital-health platforms capable of connecting clinics, laboratories and governments across the continent.

“We are here to invest in Africa, and Africa will be great forever,” Mr. Akandoh added to resounding applause, encapsulating the sense of momentum and shared purpose that defined the gathering.

For Prez. Mahama, who set the tone for the summit, the message was unmistakable: when Africa invests boldly in its own health systems, the continent’s greatness is not a distant dream—it is a certainty.

The story of WHX Leaders Africa has only just begun, and the continent is poised to author every chapter of its next health revolution.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith