President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday called for stronger African cooperation in healthcare financing, trade and economic integration, arguing that the continent must take greater ownership of its development agenda.
Speaking during his State of the Nation Address, Mahama said Ghana had sought to play a catalytic continental role by promoting collaboration among African countries and development partners.
He cited a landmark health sovereignty summit hosted in Accra last year that brought together African heads of state, policymakers and international partners to chart a new roadmap for healthcare financing.
“Africa must take ownership of its health security,” Mahama said, urging countries to pool resources and design financing systems aligned with African realities rather than external prescriptions.
He stressed that strong economies depended on healthy populations, linking health sovereignty directly to economic independence.
“Health sovereignty is inseparable from economic sovereignty,” he said.
Mahama argued that Africa’s long-term prosperity required deeper regional integration, particularly through fully activating the continent’s common market.
He called for freer movement of goods, services, capital and ideas across borders to unlock industrial growth and innovation.
“No single African country, no matter how well endowed, can thrive alone in this new global environment,” he said.
The president said collective action would strengthen Africa’s resilience against global shocks while accelerating trade and industrialisation.
Mahama added that Ghana’s foreign and economic policy would continue supporting continental cooperation initiatives aimed at shared prosperity.
He said Africa’s development must increasingly be driven by internal collaboration rather than reliance on external solutions.
According to Mahama, coordinated investment in healthcare systems, trade infrastructure and industrial capacity would enable African economies to compete globally while improving living standards.
He concluded by urging African leaders to deepen partnerships that promote self-reliance and sustainable growth across the continent.
