Mahama hosts AU summit on ending AIDS, TB

President John Dramani Mahama will host an Extraordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Accra as African leaders convene to strengthen healthcare systems and accelerate progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) across the continent.

The high-level two-day summit, taking place from July 21 to 22, 2026, will bring together presidents, ministers, health experts, development partners, civil society organisations, and private sector representatives to discuss practical solutions to Africa's most pressing public health challenges.

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."

According to a statement issued on Tuesday, July 21, the summit seeks to strengthen cooperation among African Union member states and develop coordinated strategies for achieving universal access to affordable, quality healthcare.

Participants will include African Heads of State and Government, Ministers of Health, Finance, Foreign Affairs and Economic Planning, officials of the African Union Commission, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), international development partners, youth organisations, civil society groups, and representatives of the private sector.

The meeting is expected to reinforce Africa's collective commitment to improving healthcare financing, disease prevention, health system resilience, and equitable access to essential medical services.

The summit will begin on Tuesday, July 21, with a technical session involving experts from ministries responsible for health, finance, and economic planning across AU member states.

These discussions will review current health challenges facing the continent, assess progress made under existing AU health strategies, and formulate policy recommendations for consideration by Heads of State.

The outcomes of the technical meeting will form the basis of decisions to be adopted during the Assembly of Heads of State and Government on Wednesday, July 22.

During the presidential session, African leaders are expected to deliberate on measures to accelerate implementation of the African Union Roadmap to 2030, which seeks to improve health outcomes and achieve Universal Health Coverage across member states.

Discussions will cover efforts to eliminate major infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis (TB) while addressing rising cases of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), improving maternal and child healthcare, and combating neglected tropical diseases that continue to affect millions across Africa.

The summit will also examine innovative financing models, stronger regional cooperation, and strategies to build more resilient healthcare systems capable of responding to future public health emergencies.

Government says Ghana's selection as host of the Extraordinary AU Summit reflects the country's growing role in advancing equitable healthcare and supporting Africa's broader health transformation agenda.

According to the statement, the Mahama administration has implemented several flagship health initiatives designed to improve healthcare accessibility and affordability nationwide.

These include the rollout of the Free Primary Health Care Programme, the uncapping of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to improve sustainable funding, and the establishment of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (MahamaCares) to provide financial support for specialised medical treatment.

Government noted that these interventions form part of a wider strategy to strengthen Ghana's healthcare system while advancing the country's commitment to Universal Health Coverage.

The statement further highlighted ongoing investments in healthcare infrastructure, workforce development, emergency preparedness, digital health systems, and local pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Officials say these initiatives align closely with the objectives of the AU summit by improving health service delivery, expanding access to medicines, and strengthening Africa's capacity to respond to disease outbreaks and future health crises.

Government believes increased local production of medicines and medical supplies will reduce dependence on imports and improve healthcare resilience across the continent.

As part of the summit programme, participants will attend a high-level side event dedicated to maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent survival.

The session will be led by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the African Union Champion for Maternal and Child Health, in collaboration with the Accra Reset initiative.

The event will focus on reducing maternal and infant mortality, expanding access to reproductive healthcare, improving child nutrition, and strengthening health systems that support women, children, and adolescents.

Government has assured participating countries and development partners that Ghana is fully prepared to host the summit and facilitate productive discussions among member states.

Officials expressed confidence that the meeting will produce practical policy decisions and stronger regional partnerships to improve healthcare delivery across Africa.

The Extraordinary AU Summit is expected to strengthen collective action toward reducing disease burdens, expanding access to quality healthcare, improving health financing, and achieving the African Union's goal of Universal Health Coverage by 2030.

The gathering also reinforces Africa's commitment to building resilient health systems capable of protecting future generations while promoting sustainable development across the continent.