President John Dramani Mahama has arrived in Brussels, Belgium, as a prominent advocate and ambassador for the GAVI Alliance’s crucial vaccine replenishment efforts.

President Mahama wlill participate in the Global Summit on Health and Prosperity through Immunisation, co-hosted by the European Union, the Gates Foundation, and the Vaccine
Alliance

The Summit aims to secure vital support for Gavi’s ambitious 2026-2030 strategy.

This strategy seeks to immunise an additional 500 million children, save over 8 million lives, and protect against up to 150 disease outbreaks, delivering over $100 billion in economic
benefits.

President Mahama’s presence highlights the vital role of global cooperation in providing
fair access to vaccines, especially in lower-income countries.

Having experienced the transformative impact of immunisation in Ghana and across Africa first-hand, President
Mahama has been dedicated to advocating for a fully funded Gavi.

In 2013, he played a similar role to support the Alliance in its mission to save children’s lives and protect health by increasing immunisation

President Mahama believes that a fully funded Gavi will save millions of lives, unlock significant economic potential, and strengthen global health security

The Global Summit provides a critical opportunity to garner renewed commitment from traditional and newer donors, highlighting the proven effectiveness and value of Gavi’s
partnerships with governments, international organisations, civil society, communities, and
industry leaders.

Since 2000, Gavi has reached over a billion children with life-saving vaccines, preventing more than 18.8 million deaths and generating over $250 billion in economic benefits for
lower-income economies.

While in Brussels, President Mahama will also hold discussions with many leaders, including the President of the EU Council of Ministers and Bill Gates.

The Committee on Defence and Interior held a crucial engagement with the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) to discuss urgent challenges threatening the operations of the service.

The Director of Finance at GNFS, D.C.F.O Mark Brako Appiah disclosed that many of their fire tenders are over 22 years old and no longer supported with spare parts locally, raising fears of a possible shutdown by the end of the year if the situation is not addressed.

He also pointed to the public’s disregard for fire safety protocols, such as sleeping near gas cylinders and the lack of escape routes in most buildings, which he said contributes significantly to fire-related deaths.

In addition to the ageing equipment, the service is grappling with a shortage of command and utility vehicles, lack of fire stations in key areas, and limited access to functional hydrants.

These limitations, he explained, not only affect emergency response times but also discourage investors from entering underserved regions.

Personnel health was also highlighted as a concern, with many suffering from prolonged exposure to smoke during rescue operations.

Chief Fire Officer Madam Daniella Mawusi Ntow-Sarpong acknowledged a decline in public trust and assured the Committee that efforts are underway to improve internal discipline, training, and professionalism among staff.

She also addressed concerns about fire tenders arriving at scenes without water, attributing the issue to the lack of hydrants in some communities.

The Committee, led by the chairman, James Agalga, pledged to present its findings and recommendations to Parliament to help strengthen the Service and ensure it remains fit for its mandate of safeguarding life and property.