UNGA 80: African Leaders Back Mahama, Target 60% Local Medicines By 2040

African heads of state, meeting on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly, praised Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama for convening the recent Africa Health Sovereignty Summit in Accra, saying it has revived continent-wide efforts to build self-reliant and resilient health systems.

The endorsement came at a session of the Committee of Heads of State and Government of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), where leaders discussed sharp reductions in external support. The United States alone has reportedly cut health funding to Africa by about £8 billion, with similar pullbacks from several European partners, the leaders noted.

Participants said the cuts expose vulnerabilities in African health systems but also create an opening to reduce dependency by prioritising domestic investment, strengthening transparency and taking greater ownership of policy and delivery.

Leaders committed to pool resources to establish regional pharmaceutical manufacturing hubs, setting a goal to meet at least 60% of the continent’s medicines demand by 2040. Citing India’s pharmaceutical industry, home to thousands of manufacturers, as a model, they said a coordinated African effort could lower drug prices and generate jobs.

To advance the plan, countries agreed to harmonise regulatory frameworks and to work with partners including Gavi and the World Bank, which have pledged to share expertise in supply chains and health-infrastructure development.

Africa CDC outlined measures to bolster resilience, including training programmes, new operational centres and upgraded surveillance systems that use digital tools to extend real-time disease monitoring into rural areas. The approach is aimed at faster detection and response to outbreaks such as mpox, dengue fever, Ebola and cholera.

President Mahama, whose “Accra Reset” helped set the agenda for renewed discussions, also highlighted Ghana’s steps at home. He cited government interventions to uncap the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to expand access, and signalled a significant increase in health-sector investment under a “Big Push” initiative beginning next year.

Assuming the chair of the meeting from Angola’s president and African Union chair, Mahama urged member states to deepen engagement with investors and donors through sustained advocacy. A resolution adopted at the session establishes a policy framework for the agenda, with support from Gavi and the WHO Director-General, who agreed to review progress at a follow-up meeting on the margins of the UNGA.