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“Africa does not need charity, Africa needs fair terms” – Director-General, WHO states
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The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has called for a fairer global health system that allows African countries to take full ownership of their health priorities.
Dr. Ghebreyesus said sudden aid cuts were causing major setbacks in African health systems, with health workers losing their jobs, clinics shutting down, and life-saving medicines locked away in warehouses.
He warned that health aid was projected to fall by up to 40% this year making it the most severe disruption since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He was speaking at the opening of the Africa Health Sovereignty Summit held on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, in Accra.
The summit, hosted in Accra, brought together African Heads of State, health ministers, and global health leaders to discuss urgent reforms in the way health systems are governed and financed on the continent. It aims to push for reforms in global health governance and highlight national ownership, local investment, and stronger leadership in public health.
Key outcomes of the summit include the endorsement of The Accra Initiative, the launch of the SUSTAIN Initiative to promote domestic health financing, and the formation of a Presidential High-Level Panel. The Accra Compact, a document outlining Africa’s unified vision for health sovereignty, was also adopted.
The Director General stressed that the crisis presents an opportunity for Africa to move away from dependency on foreign aid and embrace a new era of self-reliance and sovereignty.
He praised countries like Ghana for stepping up domestic investment in health, especially after Parliament passed reforms to increase funding for the National Health Insurance Scheme.
This action he said demonstrated what health sovereignty looked like.
He emphasized that Africa did not lack capability, but rather needed fair terms and a stronger voice in shaping global health policies.
“Africa does not need charity. Africa needs fair terms” he reiterated.
Dr. Ghebreyesus revealed that up to 13% of health budgets in low- and middle-income countries go unspent due to weak public financial systems.
He mentioned that WHO was working with governments to improve this through better budget planning, health taxes, and digital financial systems.
He highlighted that in 2023, Africa received $74 billion in aid but lost $90 billion to illicit financial flows and $55 billion to corporate tax exemptions, an imbalance he described as unacceptable.
The WHO boss urged global leaders to stop bypassing national systems and instead support country-owned, sustainable health programs.
He ended by saying that health was not a cost to be cut, but an investment in people and prosperity.
Also addressing the summit, the former UK Prime Minister and current WHO Ambassador for Global Health Financing, Gordon Brown, warned that recent cuts in global aid were threatening decades of progress in Africa’s health sector.
He said vital initiatives like Ghana’s Community Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds were at risk.
Mr. Brown said the issue was not just about money but a deeper failure in global solidarity.
He argued that African countries must no longer be treated as passive recipients of help but should lead in shaping their own health systems.
He described the summit as more than a policy meeting. “it was a moral call to action and a turning point for the continent” he mentioned.
He described health as a “currency of dignity” and called for long-term solutions that place African countries in full control of their health destinies.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Accra Regional Police Command has arrested former professional boxer Michael Ayitey Okai, popularly known as “Ayitey Powers,” over an alleged threat of death against the Director-General of the National Sports Authority, Yaw Ampofo.
According to the Police, the 46-year-old former boxer was arrested on Monday, August 24, 2026, in connection with the alleged threat.
The Police said the arrest followed a video circulating on social media in which Ayitey Powers is alleged to have issued the threat against Mr Ampofo.
He is currently in Police custody and is assisting with investigations.
The Accra Regional Police Command said investigations are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged threat and determine the appropriate action to be taken in accordance with the law.
The Command has urged the public to refrain from sharing unverified information about the matter while the investigation continues.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Minority Leader in Parliament Alexander Afenyo Markin has sued the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, and Multimedia Group Limited over alleged defamatory comments made against him on the Newsfile programme.
In a writ filed at the High Court in Accra, Mr Afenyo Markin is seeking GH¢15 million in damages, an apology and retraction of the statements, among other reliefs.
The suit follows comments allegedly made by Mr Gyamfi during the Saturday, August 22, 2026 edition of Newsfile, hosted by Samson Lardy Anyenini.
According to the statement of claim, Mr Gyamfi described Mr Afenyo Markin as an “extortionist” while responding to a question about GoldBod’s reported profits and its position on losses arising from its operations.
The plaintiff claims that Mr Gyamfi repeated the allegation when the host sought clarification on whether he stood by the description.
Mr Afenyo Markin further claims that Mr Gyamfi challenged him to sue him and insisted that the allegation was true.
The plaintiff argues that the statements created the impression that he engages in extortion, uses his political influence to put improper pressure on public institutions and officials, and conducts himself in a manner inconsistent with the standards expected of a lawyer and public office holder.
He denies the allegations and maintains that he is not an extortionist and has never engaged in the conduct alleged by Mr Gyamfi.
The Minority Leader also argues that the comments were made maliciously and were presented as facts without evidence being disclosed.
He claims the statements have damaged his reputation, professional standing and public image, particularly because of his position as a senior political figure and legal practitioner.
The suit also names Multimedia Group Limited as a defendant because, according to the plaintiff, the alleged defamatory comments were broadcast through JoyNews and subsequently circulated on social media platforms, including X, Facebook and YouTube.
Mr Afenyo Markin claims Multimedia failed to stop the comments or deactivate Mr Gyamfi’s microphone after the allegations were made.
He is therefore asking the court to award him general, aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as GH¢15 million in compensation and legal costs.
He is also seeking an order compelling the defendants to issue a full, unconditional and unequivocal retraction and public apology.
The plaintiff wants the apology and retraction to be given similar prominence and reach as the original publication, including through JoyNews and the social media platforms where the comments were disseminated.
He is further seeking a permanent injunction preventing the defendants from repeating the alleged defamatory statements or words with a similar meaning.
The writ requires the defendants to enter an appearance within eight days after being served.
It warns that failure to do so could result in judgment being entered in their absence.
The case was filed by lawyer Paa Kwesi Abaidoo of Dehyena Chambers on behalf of Mr Afenyo Markin.
By: Jacob Aggrey
