President Mahama to champion Africa's healthcare agenda at AU Extraordinary Summit

President John Dramani Mahama is hosting the African Union (AU) Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Accra from July 21 to 22, 2026.

According to a statement issued by the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, on July 21, 2026, the meeting will provide a platform for African leaders and stakeholders to develop practical solutions to improve healthcare delivery and accelerate progress towards achieving universal health coverage across the continent.

“The Extraordinary Session will bring together African Heads of State and Government, Ministers of Health, Finance and Foreign Affairs, the African Union Commission, Regional Economic Communities, development partners, civil society organisations, youth representatives and private sector actors. Together, they will work to strengthen Africa’s health systems and accelerate Universal Health Coverage across the continent", it stated.

The summit will be held in two major phases, beginning on July 21, 2026, with a Member State Experts Meeting.

"The summit will begin with a Member State Experts Meeting, bringing together senior officials from Ministries of Health, Finance, and Economic/Development Planning to lay the technical groundwork for ministerial and Heads of State deliberations", the statement said.

The second phase will take place on July 22, 2026, when the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government will convene to deliberate on and adopt key decisions shaping Africa’s health priorities.

"The African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government will convene to deliberate on and adopt key decisions shaping Africa’s health priorities, including a Declaration to accelerate implementation of the African Union Roadmap to 2030", it noted.

It said Ghana’s decision to host the continental gathering demonstrates President Mahama’s commitment to promoting equitable access to healthcare in Africa.

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“Ghana’s decision to host this historic gathering reflects President Mahama’s sustained investment in equitable healthcare delivery and its resolve to lead by example on the continent,” it said.

It highlighted several healthcare initiatives undertaken by the Mahama administration, including the rollout of the Free Primary Health Care Programme, the uncapping of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to expand access to essential health services, and the establishment of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as “MahamaCares”, to support universal health coverage.

The summit is expected to focus on addressing major public health challenges across Africa, including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, maternal mortality, non-communicable diseases and neglected tropical diseases.

See the full statement below: