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Prez Mahama to host AU summit on universal health coverage and ending AIDS
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President John Dramani Mahama will host an Extraordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Accra from July 21 to 22, 2026, to discuss ways of improving healthcare across the continent.
According to a statement issued by the Presidency Communications Office on Tuesday, the summit will be held under the theme: “Advancing Justice, Equity and Universal Health Coverage: Ending AIDS, TB, Improving Maternal Health, Addressing Endemic Non-Communicable and Neglected Tropical Diseases and Conditions in Africa.”
The statement, signed by the Minister for Government Communications and Presidential Spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, said the meeting would bring together African Heads of State and Government, Ministers of Health, Finance and Foreign Affairs, officials of the African Union Commission, Regional Economic Communities, development partners, civil society organisations, youth representatives and private sector actors.
It said participants would discuss ways to strengthen Africa’s health systems and accelerate the achievement of universal health coverage across the continent.
According to the statement, the summit will begin on July 21 with a meeting of experts from member states.
The meeting will involve senior officials from the ministries responsible for health, finance and economic planning to prepare technical recommendations for ministers and Heads of State.
It said the Assembly of Heads of State and Government would meet on July 22 to consider and adopt key decisions on Africa’s health priorities, including a declaration to speed up the implementation of the African Union Roadmap to 2030.
The Presidency said Ghana’s hosting of the summit reflects President Mahama’s commitment to expanding access to quality healthcare and promoting health equity across Africa.
It noted that the government has introduced several health initiatives, including the Free Primary Health Care Programme, the uncapping of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to improve access to healthcare, and the establishment of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, known as “MahamaCares,” to support universal health coverage.
The statement added that the government is also investing in health infrastructure, training healthcare workers, strengthening emergency preparedness and promoting local pharmaceutical manufacturing.
It further announced that President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, the African Union Champion for Maternal and Child Health, will lead a side event on maternal, newborn, child and adolescent survival in partnership with the Accra Reset initiative.
The Presidency welcomed all Heads of State, delegates and stakeholders to Ghana and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to working with the African Union and its member states to improve healthcare and achieve universal health coverage across the continent.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has clarified that former Finance Minister Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta remains the subject of criminal proceedings in Ghana and is still wanted under a valid arrest warrant issued by the High Court in Accra.
In a public notice, the OSP said it had taken note of a transcript of a hearing from a United States immigration court that has been circulated by some media organisations.
According to the office, the document has been interpreted by some to suggest that Mr. Ofori-Atta has not been credibly charged or linked to any wrongdoing in Ghana.
The OSP rejected that interpretation, explaining that it is not involved in Mr. Ofori-Atta’s immigration proceedings in the United States.
It said its involvement relates only to extradition proceedings, which are being handled through Ghana’s Attorney-General as the country’s central authority.
According to the OSP, the extradition documents are not before the US immigration court and the court has no authority to determine whether the criminal charges against Mr. Ofori-Atta are credible.
“The credibility or otherwise of the criminal charges against Mr. Ofori-Atta is a matter for determination by the courts in Ghana,” the OSP stated.
The office explained that there are three separate legal proceedings involving the former minister.
These include the immigration proceedings in the United States concerning his immigration status, extradition proceedings to determine whether he should be returned to Ghana, and the criminal case before the High Court in Accra involving corruption and corruption-related offences.
The OSP reiterated that Mr. Ofori-Atta remains before the High Court in Accra as an accused person and that a valid warrant has been issued for his arrest.
It maintained that he remains a fugitive from justice in Ghana and is required to appear before the High Court to answer the charges against him.
The Special Prosecutor also stressed that the criminal proceedings in Ghana would continue in accordance with the law and the directives of the High Court, whether or not Mr. Ofori-Atta is physically present in the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Telecel Ghana has announced that it has resolved the intermittent challenges that affected its voice and data services.
In a message to customers, the telecommunications company announced that its network services had been fully restored after experiencing temporary disruptions.
“We are pleased to inform you that intermittent challenges with our voice and data services have been resolved,” the company said.
Telecel apologised to customers for the inconvenience caused by the service interruptions and thanked them for their patience during the period.
“We appreciate your patience and apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused,” the company added.
The company assured customers of its commitment to providing reliable communication services under its slogan, “Connecting Energies.”
By: Jacob Aggrey
