President John Dramani Mahama is preparing to welcome African leaders to Accra for an Extraordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government to strengthen healthcare systems and advance Universal Health Coverage across the continent.
The two-day summit, scheduled for July 21 to 22, 2026, will be held under the theme: “Advancing Justice, Equity, and Universal Health Coverage: Ending AIDS, TB, Improving Maternal Health, and Addressing Endemic Non-Communicable and Neglected Tropical Diseases and Conditions in Africa.”
The meeting is expected to bring together African Heads of State and Government, Ministers of Health, Finance, and Foreign Affairs, representatives of the African Union Commission, Regional Economic Communities, development partners, civil society organisations, youth representatives, and private sector stakeholders.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday, July 21, the summit will focus on strengthening collaboration among AU member states and developing practical strategies to accelerate progress towards universal access to quality healthcare across Africa.
The first phase of the summit, taking place on Tuesday, July 21, will feature a technical meeting involving experts from Ministries of Health, Finance, and Economic Planning. These discussions are expected to lay the groundwork for key policy decisions to be considered by African leaders during the Heads of State session.
The AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government will meet on Wednesday, July 22, to deliberate on and adopt measures aimed at advancing Africa’s health priorities, including the implementation of the African Union Roadmap to 2030.
Ghana’s decision to host the continental health summit reflects what the government describes as the country’s commitment to promoting equitable healthcare delivery and providing leadership in Africa’s health transformation agenda.
In a statement, the government highlighted several health initiatives introduced under President Mahama’s administration. These include the rollout of the Free Primary Healthcare Programme, the strengthening of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), and the establishment of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, also known as “Mahama Cares.”
According to the statement, these interventions form part of broader efforts to expand access to quality healthcare, strengthen health financing, and accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage. The government added that President Mahama has also prioritised investments in health infrastructure, workforce development, emergency preparedness, and local pharmaceutical manufacturing, all of which align with the objectives of the AU summit.
The summit will also feature a side event on maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health, led by Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the African Union Champion for Maternal and Child Health, in partnership with the Accra Reset Initiatives.
The government has assured participating countries and stakeholders of Ghana’s readiness to host the summit and collaborate with AU member states to develop sustainable solutions that will improve health outcomes across the continent.
The meeting is expected to provide a platform for African leaders to strengthen collective action, reduce the burden of disease, improve access to quality healthcare, and accelerate progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage across Africa by 2030.
