ACCRA, Ghana — African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf met with Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama at the Jubilee House in Accra on the sidelines of the African Union Extraordinary Summit on Sustainable Health Financing, Domestic Health Manufacturing and Research, where both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Africa’s healthcare systems and advancing the continent’s long-term development agenda.
The high-level meeting focused on implementing the outcomes of the landmark summit, which brought together African leaders to develop strategies aimed at improving health financing, expanding domestic pharmaceutical production, and building more resilient healthcare systems across the continent.
President Mahama praised the AU Commission for convening the Extraordinary Summit in Ghana, describing the gathering as a significant step toward strengthening Africa’s health sovereignty.
He reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to supporting the implementation of the Summit’s decisions and expressed hope that all African Union Member States would translate the agreements reached in Accra into concrete national actions.
According to the President, the Accra Declaration aligns closely with the African Union’s broader vision of promoting self-reliance through increased local production of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, diagnostics, and other essential medical products.
Mahama also highlighted Ghana’s ongoing investments in strengthening its national healthcare system, particularly efforts to expand access to quality primary healthcare as part of the country’s drive toward achieving universal health coverage.
Beyond health issues, the President thanked the African Union Commission for supporting Ghana’s initiative on reparatory justice at the United Nations General Assembly, noting that the proposal received the backing of a majority of UN Member States.
Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, in turn, expressed appreciation to President Mahama and the Government of Ghana for successfully hosting the Extraordinary Summit and for the warm hospitality extended to participating delegations.
He commended President Mahama’s leadership and reaffirmed Ghana’s important contribution to advancing the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the continental blueprint for sustainable development, regional integration, and economic transformation.
The AU Commission Chairperson also praised Ghana’s progress in strengthening its domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity, describing it as an important model for the continent’s ambition to build resilient, self-sustaining healthcare systems capable of responding to future public health challenges.
The meeting also addressed broader continental issues, including recent incidents involving African migrants in different parts of the continent.
Both leaders reaffirmed the African Union’s shared commitment to protecting the rights, dignity, and safety of African citizens wherever they reside. They emphasized the importance of addressing migration-related challenges through solidarity, dialogue, mutual respect, and adherence to the rule of law while preserving the longstanding bonds of cooperation and brotherhood among African Union Member States.
The discussions underscored the growing emphasis within the African Union on achieving greater health independence while strengthening continental unity on issues affecting the welfare and rights of Africans both at home and abroad.
The Extraordinary Summit in Accra is expected to shape future AU policies on sustainable health financing, local pharmaceutical manufacturing, and research, as African leaders seek to reduce dependence on imported medicines and build stronger, more resilient health systems across the continent