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Olusegun Obasanjo calls on African leaders to establish a health fund for health security
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on African leaders to establish a dedicated health fund to boost the continent’s health security and reduce reliance on foreign aid.
He made the call at the African Health Sovereignty Summit held in Accra, where he urged African governments to take bold steps to solve their health challenges without waiting for external help.
He commended leaders like Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama, and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame for championing health reforms across the continent.
He acknowledged former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown for his continued support.
Mr. Obasanjo stressed that while the road ahead was difficult, Africa had survived major health crises before, including Ebola, HIV/AIDS, and COVID-19, and now was imperative to shift focus from surviving emergencies to building lasting solutions.
He called for greater use of traditional medicine at the community level, noting that a significant number of pharmaceutical drugs are derived from herbs.
He said many of the herbs found in African villages remain underutilized despite their medicinal value.
At the national level, he encouraged countries to expand health insurance coverage and allocate a portion of these funds to strengthen health infrastructure and systems.
On a continental scale, he proposed the creation of an Africa Health Fund, modeled after the African Union’s Peace Fund.
He referenced how the AU was able to release $1 million swiftly for mediation efforts in the DR Congo and Rwanda, without waiting for donor support.
As part of funding ideas, he suggested a small levy on international flights entering or leaving Africa, to support the fund.
Mr. Obasanjo emphasised that Africa did not need charity but fair partnerships.
He urged leaders to pursue a future where Africa achieves “health without aid” through strong collaboration, unity, and African-led strategies.
The African Health Sovereignty Summit, held on August 5 in Accra, brought together heads of state, policymakers, and global health actors to push for reforms in global health governance and promote stronger, self-sustaining health systems on the continent.
Key outcomes include the endorsement of The Accra Initiative and a collective call for African ownership of public health priorities.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Diaspora Affairs Office at the Office of the President has hosted a delegation of African diaspora women who are in Ghana ahead of a planned Presidential Conferment of Citizenship ceremony.
The Director of Diaspora Affairs, Kofi Okyere Darko, explained in a Facebook post that the visit was a gesture of appreciation by the delegation to the Government of Ghana for its continued efforts to reconnect Africans in the diaspora with their ancestral homeland.
He indicated that the ceremony, scheduled for next Monday, will officially grant Ghanaian citizenship to members of the delegation as part of the country’s broader engagement with the African diaspora.
The delegation was led by Erica Bennett, Founder of the Diaspora Africa Forum.
According to Mr Okyere Darko, her years of advocacy have played an important role in strengthening ties between Africa and people of African descent living abroad.
He noted that the group’s journey towards citizenship represents not only a legal process but also a cultural and spiritual return to their roots.
Also present at the meeting was Natalie Jackson, an attorney who is also expected to receive Ghanaian citizenship during the ceremony. She works closely with renowned civil rights lawyer Ben Crump.
Mr Okyere Darko emphasised that Ghana remains committed to strengthening relationships with the African diaspora and promoting unity, identity, and shared heritage among people of African descent worldwide.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana has signed a debt restructuring agreement with the Kingdom of Belgium as part of efforts to restore the country’s economic stability after the financial crisis that hit the nation in 2022 and 2023.
The Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, today disclosed that he signed the agreement on behalf of the Government of Ghana.
He explained that Ghana experienced a very difficult period during the crisis, which forced the government at the time to declare a debt default.
However, he indicated that the country is now recovering and witnessing a significant economic turnaround.
According to him, stronger systems are also being put in place to ensure that Ghana does not return to such a situation again.
Dr Forson noted that the agreement with Belgium is the eighth deal Ghana has concluded with countries under the Official Creditor Committee as part of its external debt restructuring programme.
He expressed appreciation to the Government of Belgium for its support and partnership with Ghana during the process.
The Finance Minister thanked Carole van Eyll, Ambassador of Belgium to Ghana, for her role in strengthening relations between the two countries.
The agreement forms part of Ghana’s broader effort to restructure its external debts and stabilise the economy following the crisis.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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