The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has called on African leaders to move beyond aid dependency and invest in robust, country-owned health systems.
Dr. Tedros made this passionate appeal on Tuesday while speaking at the Africa Health Sovereignty Summit in Accra, Ghana, convened under the ambitious Accra Initiative.
Commending former Ghanaian President John Mahama for his leadership in hosting the summit and advocating for health sector reforms, the WHO chief said it was time for Africa to seize control of its health future.
“This summit builds on the leadership of President Kagame and the African Union to strengthen reliance on domestic resources. But it goes a step further—acknowledging that finance alone will not take us to the aspirations of the Lusaka Agenda,” he said.
Declining Aid, Rising Crisis
Dr. Tedros warned of a looming health financing cliff, noting that health aid to Africa is projected to decline by up to 40% this year compared to 2023.
“Life-saving medicines are sitting in warehouses, health workers are losing their jobs, clinics are closing, and millions are missing care,” he said.
Despite the grim outlook, he urged African leaders to view the crisis as an opportunity to reset the system—embracing sovereignty, self-reliance, and solidarity in health governance.
Ghana’s Reforms as a Model
He applauded Ghana’s recent legislative efforts to increase domestic financing for its National Health Insurance Scheme, describing the move as a model of health sovereignty for other African nations.
Dr. Tedros, however, stressed that while private and philanthropic capital is useful, it must complement—not replace—public health financing.
He revealed that up to 13% of health budgets in low- and middle-income countries go unspent, primarily due to weak financial systems.
To address this, WHO is supporting African governments with tools such as:
Health taxes on harmful products
Pooled procurement for medical supplies
Investment in domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing
Digital public financial management systems for health
Confronting Systemic Inequities
The WHO chief also drew attention to structural barriers to health development in Africa, including debt servicing and donor funds bypassing national systems.
“In 2023, Africa received $74 billion in aid, but lost $90 billion to illicit financial flows and another **$55 billion through corporate tax exemptions,” he said.
“Africa lost more than it gained. This is unacceptable.”
Dr. Tedros proposed health taxes as a sustainable solution, saying a 50% price increase on harmful products like tobacco and alcohol could generate $3.7 trillion globally over five years while saving millions of lives.
Toward a Fairer Global Health Order
He reiterated WHO’s commitment to building a democratic and equitable global health architecture, citing a landmark resolution at the World Health Assembly—led by Nigeria and co-sponsored by over 25 countries including Ghana—as a significant step in that direction.
“Africa does not need charity. Africa needs fair terms,” he declared.
Quoting Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, Dr. Tedros said:
“We are not interested in handouts. We seek a new international order in which health and development are global rights, not privileges for the few.”
He concluded with a rallying call to African leaders:
“The difference between crisis and opportunity is leadership. It’s an investment to be nurtured—in people, in stability, and in prosperity.”
The Africa Health Sovereignty Summit continues in Accra this week, with sessions focused on developing actionable strategies to implement the Lusaka Agenda and establish a new global health order rooted in African leadership, accountability, and sustainability.
