Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has made a strong case for global health equity, warning that the world’s current health challenges demand deeper cooperation and a rethinking of how health systems are financed and delivered.

Addressing delegates at the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, the minister said the realities of pandemics, climate change, conflict, antimicrobial resistance and rising non-communicable diseases have made one thing clear, no country is insulated from the other.

“When one country is vulnerable, all of us are vulnerable. That is the world we live in,” he told the Assembly in a statement that anchored Ghana’s position at the global gathering.

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Akandoh stressed that while global medicine and science have advanced significantly, inequality continues to define access to healthcare, with millions still dying from preventable diseases simply because of where they are born or the resources available to them.

He said Ghana’s approach to reshaping health delivery is rooted in equity, with a deliberate focus on strengthening primary healthcare and expanding access at the community level.



He highlighted flagship interventions including ongoing reforms under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (popularly known as MahamaCares), and the Free Primary Healthcare Programme, describing them as practical steps toward universal health coverage that improve access and reduce out-of-pocket expenditure for individuals and families.

Beyond domestic reforms, the Minister underscored the importance of global coordination, noting that Ghana is working with the World Health Organization, the World Bank, the Government of Japan and other partners to finalise a National Health Compact that aligns financing with national priorities.

He further referenced President John Dramani Mahama’s “Accra Reset” initiative, describing it as a bold attempt to reassess whether the global health architecture is still fit for purpose in a rapidly changing world.



“Ghana stands ready, through the Accra Reset and with all of you, to build a healthier, safer and fairer world,” he said, drawing attention to the need for collective responsibility.

The minister was accompanied by a high-level delegation including the Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority, Dr Victor Asare Bampoe; Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea; Ranking Member of Parliament’s Select Committee on Health, Dr Nana Ayew Afriye; and Directors from the Ministry of Health.

The 79th World Health Assembly continues in Geneva with member states deliberating on health financing, pandemic preparedness and pathways to achieving universal health coverage with Ghana positioning itself as a strong voice for equity-driven global reform.