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World faces choice between saving lives & funding bombs—Mahama
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Addressing a global health summit organised by Gavi and the Gates Foundation in Brussels on Wednesday, President John Dramani Mahama starkly contrasted military spending with the cost of saving lives through vaccination, telling attendees that the $9 billion sought by the Gavi vaccine alliance over five years is equivalent to the cost of just four B-2 Spirit bombers.
“This morning, I took time to reflect, researched and discovered that one B-2 Spirit bomber that dropped bombs on Iran recently cost $2.13 billion,” President Mahama said at the Gavi vaccine alliance pledging session.
He said, “If you work the math, Gavi seeks the value of four of those B-2 bombers. Surely, the world can invest the equivalent cost of four B-2 bombers to save 500 million children.”
He framed the funding decision as a fundamental moral choice for the international community. “It’s a choice we have to make,” he declared, “between taking lives and saving lives, and I am sure we will save lives instead of taking them.”
The call for increased funding came after the President shared a deeply personal account of the impact of vaccine-preventable diseases. He spoke of his younger brother who was crippled by polio in childhood, a disability that led to long-term stigma, depression, and ultimately, his death from alcohol poisoning.
He contrasted his own childhood experience, when vaccine access in his region was scarce, with the hope that Gavi now provides to millions worldwide.
“Today, Gavi has changed all that and given hope to millions of children,” he stated, adding that Gavi’s efforts allow children to grow into “responsible citizens,” he added.
Highlighting Ghana’s partnership with Gavi, President Mahama announced that the country has achieved 97 per cent immunisation coverage, a figure with which he expressed pride.
However, he acknowledged the challenge of reaching the remaining 3 per cent, approximately 65,000 children in remote areas, and voiced confidence that Gavi’s support would help find them.
As a lower-middle-income country, Ghana co-finances its vaccine programmes with Gavi.
President Mahama detailed steps Ghana is taking to increase its contribution, including uncapping the national health insurance fund, which has allowed for significant allocation to vaccine financing.
He noted that Ghana has spent almost $67 million on vaccines in partnership with Gavi in recent years and has front-loaded $20 million for co-financing this year.
Looking ahead, President Mahama expressed Ghana’s ambition to fast-track its transition from receiving Gavi funding by 2030 to becoming a donor country, citing Indonesia as an example.
He concluded by thanking Gavi and the countries that had made significant pledges at the summit, endorsing the slogan, “While others step back, we step up.”
Gavi aims to raise $9 billion over the next five years (2026-2030) to immunise 500 million children globally.
President Mahama argued that this effort was a crucial investment in the future, enabling children to become “tomorrow’s scientists, engineers, nurses, teachers, and doctors.”
Businessman Mr. Ibrahim Mahama has denied reports linking him to a takeover bid for the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO).
His reaction follows a demonstration by members of the VALCO Labour Union today, during which some protesters alleged that Mr. Mahama was interested in acquiring the state-owned aluminium company.
In a statement issued by his Special Aide, Rafik Mahama, the businessman said he has “no such interest” and has not made any offer to acquire VALCO.
“The allegation is the latest in several vile attempts to impute the integrity of Mr. Ibrahim Mahama and subject him to needless public engagements,” the statement said.
The statement added that Mr. Mahama’s business track record speaks for itself, describing his companies as “some of the best-run operations across the African continent.”
It further noted that all of Mr. Mahama’s business interests were “legally commenced or acquired” and operate within the law a fact it said explains why his businesses have endured across seven election cycles.
“Mr. Mahama remains committed to contributing his quota to the development of Ghana by investing in business opportunities in Ghana and beyond,” the statement added.
The statement also disclosed that Mr. Mahama has instructed his lawyers to take the necessary legal action over the publication and allegations.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The leadership of Kristo Asafo has dismissed reports circulating on social media and in some media outlets that the late Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka will be buried on July 30, 2026, describing the claim as false.
The current head of the Kantanka family and leader of Kristo Asafo, Kwadwo Safo Akofena Kantanka, addressed the issue during a press conference in Accra today.
He said no burial date has been set and urged members of the church and the general public to disregard any unofficial announcements.
“I urge the members of Kristo Asafo and the nation to disregard any burial date out there,” Akofena said.
He further stressed that neither the leadership of the church nor the Kantanka family has made any such announcement regarding the funeral.
According to him, all official funeral arrangements will be communicated only through a formal statement from the Kantanka family when the time is due.
Akofena Safo Kantanka said the family remains united in ensuring that the final funeral rites are conducted in a manner that befits the legacy of the late Apostle.
He called on Ghanaians to remain calm and wait for the official communication from the family, warning against the spread of misinformation.
Background
Apostle Dr. Ing. Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, founder and spiritual leader of Kristo Asafo Mission of Ghana, passed away recently, plunging the church and the nation into mourning.
The late Apostle was widely known not only as a religious leader but also as an industrialist, inventor, and founder of the Kantanka Group of Companies, which manufactures vehicles and other machinery in Ghana.
Since his passing, there has been heightened public interest in his funeral arrangements.
It would be recalled that a faction of the siblings and family led by former MP Adwoa Safo had earlier announced a proposed burial date and arrangements.
That announcement, however, has been rejected by the current leadership of both the church and the family.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
