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Olusegun Obasanjo calls on African leaders to establish a health fund for health security
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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 Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has taken note of public allegations of extortion and related conduct made against the Minority Leader of Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
The allegations were made by the Chief Executive of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi.
In a brief statement, the OSP said it has also received a joint petition submitted by two persons, as well as two separate petitions from other persons, in relation to the same allegations.
“Given the nature of the allegations, the OSP will assess the case and determine whether it falls within its statutory mandate and whether further investigative action is warranted,” the statement said.
The development comes amid a heated public feud between the Minority in Parliament and the leadership of GoldBod over the operations of the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.
The Minority, led by Afenyo-Markin, has accused GoldBod and the Bank of Ghana of causing a loss of over $1.7 billion, citing the International Monetary Fund’s August 2026 report. The Minority has vowed to pursue the matter as Parliament has reconvened for an emergency sitting.
GoldBod, on the other hand, has rejected claims by some NPP MPs, including Tano South MP Dr Gideon Boako, that it owes the Bank of Ghana GH¢1 billion in overdrafts, describing the claim as “false and malicious.”
In the latest twist, GoldBod CEO Sammy Gyamfi has accused the Minority Leader of extortion and related conduct, an allegation that has triggered petitions to the OSP.
The OSP is mandated under Act 959 to investigate and prosecute specific cases of alleged or suspected corruption and corruption-related offences involving public officers and politically exposed persons.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua Frimpong, has filed his nomination to contest the position of General Secretary again as the party begins its rebuilding efforts ahead of the 2028 general elections.
He was accompanied by party stalwarts and supporters who were in high spirits, expressing confidence that he is the right person to hold the position.
Speaking after filing his nomination, Mr Kodua Frimpong assured the rank and file of the party that he would not disappoint them.
“I can assure you that the faith the rank and file of the party have had in me, I will never disappoint them,” he said.
He also pledged to run a clean campaign devoid of personal attacks.
“I can assure you that our internal campaign will be devoid of personal attacks,” he told his fellow contestants and the rank and file of the party as he seeks to retain his position.
His tenure has seen the party through the 2024 general elections, where the NPP lost power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) after eight years in government.
The party is currently in a rebuilding phase, with internal elections scheduled to elect new national executives to lead its reorganization towards the 2028 polls.
The General Secretary position is considered one of the most influential in the party’s administrative structure, responsible for the day-to-day running of the party secretariat and implementation of party decisions.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
