President John Dramani Mahama is hosting an Extraordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Accra, where African leaders are meeting to chart a path towards stronger healthcare systems and universal access to quality health services.
The two-day summit, taking place from July 21 to 22, 2026, is themed: “Advancing Justice, Equity and Universal Health Coverage: Ending AIDS, TB, Improving Maternal Health, Addressing Endemic Non-Communicable and Neglected Tropical Diseases and Conditions in Africa.”
The gathering has attracted Heads of State and Government, ministers responsible for health, finance and foreign affairs, representatives of the African Union Commission, Regional Economic Communities, development partners, civil society organisations, youth groups and private sector actors.
According to a government statement issued on Tuesday, the summit seeks to deepen cooperation among AU member states and develop practical solutions to accelerate progress towards universal health coverage across the continent.
Proceedings began on Tuesday with a technical session involving experts from ministries of health, finance and economic planning. Their recommendations are expected to shape the decisions that African leaders will consider during the Heads of State meeting on Wednesday.
The Assembly of Heads of State and Government is expected to adopt measures that will advance Africa’s health agenda, including the implementation of the African Union Roadmap to 2030.
Government said Ghana’s hosting of the summit demonstrates its commitment to improving equitable healthcare delivery and supporting Africa’s broader health transformation efforts.
The statement highlighted key health initiatives introduced under President Mahama’s administration, including the Free Primary Health Care Programme, the removal of the cap on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), and the establishment of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as MahamaCares.
These initiatives, government noted, are aimed at expanding access to healthcare, strengthening health financing and advancing the country’s universal health coverage goals.
It also cited investments in health infrastructure, workforce development, emergency preparedness and local pharmaceutical production as measures that align with the objectives of the AU summit.
As part of the programme, a side event on maternal, newborn, child and adolescent survival will be hosted by Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the African Union Champion for Maternal and Child Health, in collaboration with the Accra Reset initiative.
Government reaffirmed Ghana’s readiness to host the continental event and expressed optimism that the summit would strengthen collective efforts to reduce disease burdens, improve healthcare access and help Africa achieve Universal Health Coverage by 2030.
Source: citinews
