President John Dramani Mahama has invoked the painful memory of Africa’s struggle for COVID-19 vaccines as he urged the continent to accelerate local production of medicines and vaccines, declaring that the pandemic’s hard lessons must never be forgotten.

Speaking at the African Union Extraordinary Summit on Health in Accra, President Mahama recalled the deep inequities that defined the global pandemic response, when African nations were left behind as wealthier countries secured supplies.

“We all remember waiting in long queues while wealthier countries secured vaccines before Africa,” Mahama told the gathering of African heads of state, health ministers, and global health experts. “That painful experience taught us a lesson we must never forget.”

A Continent’s Vulnerability Exposed

The President’s remarks underscored the stark reality of Africa’s dependence on external suppliers. He noted that the continent still imports approximately 70 percent of its medicines, over 90 percent of its medical devices, and almost all of its vaccines—a vulnerability that COVID-19 laid bare in devastating detail.

“We all remember waiting in long queues while wealthier countries secured vaccines before Africa,” Mahama said. “That painful experience taught us a lesson we must never forget.”

The President argued that Africa must draw lasting lessons from the pandemic by investing in local production capacity to ensure the continent is better prepared to respond to future disease outbreaks and public health emergencies.

Ghana’s Ambitious Vaccine Agenda

Mahama highlighted Ghana’s strategic investments in vaccine production through the establishment of the Ghana Vaccine Institute, which forms part of broader efforts to improve Africa’s manufacturing capacity. The institute, led by CEO Dr. Sodzi-Sodzi Tettey, is working to build a credible and efficient clinical trials ecosystem essential for vaccine development and production.

“Ghana is equally investing in vaccine production through the Ghana Vaccine Institute to strengthen Africa’s manufacturing capacity,” Mahama said.

The urgency of Ghana’s shift from vaccine dependency to self-reliance is rooted in the hard lessons of the pandemic, which exposed stark global inequities in access to life-saving vaccines. For Ghana, delays in securing doses underscored a critical vulnerability: reliance on external supply in times of global crisis.

Building the Clinical Trials Ecosystem

In a significant step toward realizing this vision, Ghana has hosted a three-day Clinical Trials Assessment Workshop in Sogakope, organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the National Vaccine Institute and supported by the European Union under the Vax & Pharm Ghana Project.

The workshop convened key institutions—including the Food and Drugs Authority, Ghana Health Service, ethics committees, academia, and clinical research institutions—to evaluate Ghana’s clinical trials landscape and align it with global standards.

“Strong clinical trials systems are the backbone of credible research and a critical pillar of Ghana’s vaccine production agenda,” said Dr Fiona Braka, WHO Representative to Ghana.

Dr. Sodzi-Sodzi Tettey, CEO of the National Vaccine Institute, emphasized the importance of the initiative: “Ghana’s ambition to manufacture vaccines and pharmaceuticals cannot be realized without a credible and efficient clinical trials ecosystem. This workshop is a key step toward building the systems, partnerships, and standards required to support that vision.”

A Framework for the Future

A major milestone of the workshop was the introduction of the draft WHO Clinical Trials Ecosystem Assessment Tool. Participants began adapting the tool to Ghana’s needs and developed a harmonized field assessment plan for a nationwide evaluation of clinical trial capacity. By the end of the three days, stakeholders had developed a draft national action plan to strengthen clinical trials governance and operations.

The European Union, which supported the workshop, reaffirmed its commitment:

“Our support to the Vax & Pharm Ghana Project reflects a shared commitment to strengthening local capacity. A robust clinical trials ecosystem ensures that Ghana’s innovations are not only locally produced but globally recognized.”

Progress Across the Continent

President Mahama expressed optimism about the progress already being made across Africa, noting that several countries were expanding vaccine manufacturing and strengthening scientific research.

“Today, we are witnessing encouraging progress as vaccine manufacturing expands across Africa,” he said. “New scientific capacity is emerging in Dakar, Cape Town, Kigali and many other parts of the continent.”

He noted that the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa was steadily moving from policy aspirations to practical implementation, creating new opportunities for the continent to produce more of its own medicines and health products.

The AfCFTA and Economic Transformation

Mahama further linked healthcare manufacturing to the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area, saying the continental market provided an opportunity for African countries to build competitive pharmaceutical industries and strengthen regional trade.

“Through the African Continental Free Trade Area, health sovereignty also becomes a strategy for industrialisation, economic transformation and sustainable development,” he stated.

He stressed that building strong pharmaceutical value chains should not be viewed solely as a healthcare intervention but also as an economic strategy capable of driving industrial growth, innovation and employment.

“Building strong health value chains will create industries, laboratories, factories and quality jobs for millions of African youth,” President Mahama said.

A Vision for Health Sovereignty

President Mahama said Africa had reached a stage where it could no longer afford to remain dependent on external production for life-saving medicines and vaccines, particularly at a time when global health financing was declining and international supply chains remained vulnerable.

He urged African governments to increase investments in research, innovation, manufacturing infrastructure and regulatory systems to build a competitive pharmaceutical industry capable of serving the continent’s growing healthcare needs.

The President said achieving health sovereignty required African countries to move beyond importing finished products to developing complete pharmaceutical value chains that support research, production, quality assurance and distribution.

Here is a comprehensive review of the top stories dominating the Ghanaian press today, Friday, July 24, 2026.

1. Mid-Year Budget Review: Government Touts Economic Recovery as Minority Dismisses It as “Empty Promises”

Newspapers: Daily Graphic, Ghanaian Times, Daily Guide, Daily Analyst, Supreme, News Centa, The Inquisitor, Daily Post, The Chronicle, Discover

Summary: Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson presented the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review, announcing that Ghana had exceeded its economic targets in the first half of the year, with the cedi appreciating by 40.7% against the US dollar, per capita income rising to US$3,385, and government expenditure cut by GH¢35.6 billion. However, the Minority in Parliament, led by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, dismissed the review as “full of English with empty promises,” “uninspiring,” and failing to address key challenges facing Ghanaians. The government also confirmed it would not seek supplementary estimates for the 2026 fiscal year.

2. Wontumi Sentenced to 20 Years: NPP Declares Him “Political Prisoner” as Tensions Rise

Newspapers: Supreme, Daily Guide, The Daily Searchlight, Daily Gist

Summary: Bernard Antwi Boasiako, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for illegal mining offences. His supporters, including prominent NPP figures, have declared him a “political prisoner” and demanded his immediate release. The case has become a major political flashpoint, with the Minority Leader demanding an end to what he describes as the “persecution of the opposition.” Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and NPP executives have reportedly visited him in prison, and the party is mobilizing support for his release.

3. Adwoa Safo Spent GH¢3.7 Million on Kantanka Funeral Preparations – Lawyers

Newspapers: Supreme, The New Crusading Guide

Summary: A family dispute over the funeral arrangements for the late industrialist and founder of the Kristo Asafo Mission, Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, has erupted publicly. Adwoa Safo, a former government official and daughter of the deceased, has been accused by the family of demanding GH¢3.7 million from them before allowing the burial to proceed. The family has disputed the funeral dates she announced, creating a chaotic and very public family drama over the final rites for the prominent religious and industrial figure.

4. ECOWAS Renews Ambassador Baba Kamara’s Counter-Terrorism Mandate for Three Years

Newspapers: Day Break, The Inquisitor, The Informer

Summary: The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has renewed the mandate of its Special Envoy on Counterterrorism, Ghana’s Ambassador Baba Kamara, for another three years. The bloc also reaffirmed its commitment to deploying a regional counterterrorism force by 2027, signaling a continued, unified push against security threats in West Africa. The decision was taken at the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.

5. NLA Partners with Fidelity Bank to Modernize Lottery Operations with 5,000 POS Terminals

Newspapers: The Informer, The Inquisitor

Summary: The National Lottery Authority (NLA) has partnered with Fidelity Bank to modernize its operations through a digital transformation initiative. The program involves deploying 5,000 modern POS terminals across the country to replace obsolete, paper-based systems. The move aims to boost revenue, improve efficiency, and phase out manual transactions, with the maximum instant win prize set to be raised to GH¢30,000.

6. Minority Leader Afenyo-Markin Demands End to “Political Persecution”

Newspapers: Supreme, The Daily Searchlight

Summary: Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader in Parliament, has taken a strong stance against the government, demanding an end to what he describes as the “persecution of the opposition” and calling for the release of “all political prisoners,” including Chairman Wontumi. He criticized the mid-year budget as lacking substance and failing to deliver meaningful relief to Ghanaians, questioning the credibility of the government’s expenditure figures.

7. Government Bans Photocopying of Ghana Card Effective November 2, 2026

Newspapers: News Centa

Summary: The government has announced a ban on the photocopying of the Ghana Card, the national identity card, effective November 2, 2026. The new policy is aimed at enhancing the security and integrity of the identification system, though the practical implications for citizens and businesses are expected to be significant. The Auditor-General has also ordered the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to refund GH¢2.6 million paid to NTL.

8. Frank Annoh-Dompreh Leads Africa’s First Continental Cancer Law Drive

Newspapers: The Metro Lens, Supreme

Summary: Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, is leading a pioneering effort to establish Africa’s first continental framework for cancer legislation. This initiative seeks to unify and strengthen the legal and policy environment for cancer prevention, treatment, and research across the continent. The effort comes as non-communicable diseases, including cancer, are increasingly becoming leading causes of illness and premature deaths across Africa.

9. 20 Cuban-Trained Doctors to Join Ghana’s Health Sector

Newspapers: The Metro Lens, The New Crusading Guide, Daily Gist

Summary: The finals of the Kingsley Science & Maths Quiz competition have produced a significant outcome for Ghana’s healthcare system: 20 doctors trained in Cuba are set to join the country’s medical workforce. The development is a boost for the health sector, which has long grappled with a shortage of medical professionals. The new doctors are expected to help address critical gaps in healthcare delivery, particularly in underserved communities.

10. Government Cuts Expenditure by GH¢35.6 Billion; Minority Warns of “Fiscal Distress”

Newspapers: News Centa, Daily Graphic, Ghanaian Times

Summary: As part of the mid-year budget review, the government revealed that it had cut expenditure by a substantial GH¢35.6 billion in the first half of 2026. While the government has framed this as a sign of fiscal discipline and economic recovery, the Minority has interpreted the deep cuts as a sign of “fiscal distress” that is slowing economic activity. The Sinking Fund has accumulated GH¢15.6 billion, and the government has recapitalized banks and restored confidence in the financial sector, according to the Finance Minister.

…Also, exclusively in the B&FT

IMF Worried Over $70 Million ‘Eni’ Dispute Threatening Economic Stability

Newspaper: Business and Financial Times (B&FT)

Summary: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has expressed serious concerns over a $70 million dispute involving Italian oil giant Eni, which threatens to undermine Ghana’s economic stability and ongoing reform programme. The development comes as the government presents its Mid-Year Budget Review, with the Minority in Parliament demanding answers from the Attorney-General over the controversial case. Meanwhile, the newspaper also features coverage of the ongoing Wontumi legal saga, with supporters calling for the release of the NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for illegal mining offences. The front page also highlights the DVLA’s plan to roll out new number plates within a month and a “Searchlight” feature examining the legal and political fates of prominent figures including Wontumi, Adwoa Safo, and Afenyo-Markin.

Additional Notable Headlines

President John Dramani Mahama has issued a sweeping call for Africa to move beyond its role as a “passive beneficiary” of global health systems and demand a decisive voice in shaping the international health architecture, declaring that the continent’s future depends on “health sovereignty” and freedom from excessive external dependence.

Addressing the African Union Extraordinary Summit on Health in Accra, President Mahama pointed out that the continent’s healthcare challenges are a new liberation struggle, one that demands the same urgency and unity that drove the fight for political independence decades ago.

“The liberation we seek today is not from colonial rule but from inequality, preventable disease, maternal deaths, weak health systems and dependence on others for our healthcare,” he told the gathering of African heads of state, health ministers, and global health experts.

The two-day summit, convened 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,” marked the first Extraordinary Session of the African Union Assembly ever dedicated to health.

A Defining Moment for African Health

President Mahama said Africa stood at a defining moment where the success of the continent’s health agenda would be measured not by declarations but by tangible improvements in the lives of its citizens.

“The success of this new liberation struggle will be measured by clinics that remain open, medicines produced on African soil, healthy mothers carrying healthy babies and governments financing their own health priorities,” he stated.

He urged African leaders to view the weakening of global development assistance not as a setback but as an opportunity to build lasting institutions.

“The system that is weakening today was never meant to become our permanent foundation. It was only the scaffolding that helped us build. Our responsibility now is to complete the building itself—a strong, self-reliant African health system that can stand on its own,” Mahama declared.

“We must ask ourselves whether we intend to remain builders of temporary scaffolds or builders of lasting institutions.”

The Changing Disease Burden

President Mahama observed that while African countries had made notable progress in reducing HIV/AIDS-related deaths and tuberculosis infections, the continent continued to grapple with a rapidly shifting health landscape.

He noted that heart disease, diabetes, cancers, and mental health conditions were increasingly becoming leading causes of illness and premature deaths across Africa, with more than two million Africans dying annually from non-communicable diseases before reaching the age of 70.

“Mental health remains neglected in far too many national health strategies,” he stressed, adding that the changing disease profile required a new approach to healthcare across the continent.

The President also highlighted that more than 90 million Africans live with chronic hepatitis B or C, most of them undiagnosed, underscoring the scale of the continent’s hidden health burdens.

The Accra Reset Initiative

President Mahama highlighted Ghana’s efforts to advance health reforms through the Accra Reset Initiative, a flagship policy direction he has been championing to promote “health sovereignty” by strengthening governance, expanding domestic investment, and improving Africa’s capacity to shape global health policies.

The initiative has led to the establishment of a High-Level Panel on Global Health Architecture and Governance to generate practical solutions that would place Africa firmly in control of its health future.

The President also pointed to Ghana’s Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as Mahama Cares, as a practical intervention introduced to protect families from the financial burden of chronic diseases.

A Historic Setting

President Mahama expressed appreciation to the African Union for selecting Ghana to host the Extraordinary Summit, describing Accra as a city with a rich history of shaping Africa’s destiny.

“Accra has always been a city where Africa has gathered to shape its destiny,” he said, recalling that in December 1958, Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, convened the All-African Peoples Conference in the capital and declared that Ghana’s independence would only be meaningful when the entire continent was free.

“Today, sixty-eight years later, Africa gathers once again in Accra to confront a different struggle,” he added.

A Call for Concrete Action

President Mahama urged African leaders to remain focused on implementing concrete reforms that would deliver better healthcare services to citizens across the continent.

“The people of Africa may never read the declarations we adopt here, but they must experience their impact in better hospitals, reliable medicines, efficient clinics and healthier lives,” he said. “They must see the difference in mothers smiling with healthy children, patients receiving timely treatment and communities enjoying stronger health systems.”

He expressed optimism that the Extraordinary Summit would produce decisions capable of transforming healthcare delivery across Africa, urging leaders to ensure that the Accra Declaration became a practical roadmap for action rather than another policy document.

“Let history record that when the old systems began to fail, African leaders gathered once again in Accra and charted a new path towards health sovereignty and total liberation,” President Mahama declared.