President John Dramani Mahama will host the African Union Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Accra from July 21 to 22, 2026, bringing together continental leaders to advance universal health coverage and confront diseases including AIDS, TB and maternal health challenges across Africa.
The Presidency confirmed the summit in a statement issued by Presidency Communications on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, describing Ghana’s decision to host the gathering as a reflection of President Mahama’s sustained investment in equitable healthcare delivery.
The Extraordinary Session will convene 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 the statement, the gathering will draw a broad coalition of stakeholders, including African Heads of State and Government, Ministers of Health, Finance and Foreign Affairs, the African Union Commission, Regional Economic Communities, development partners, civil society organisations, youth representatives and private sector actors.
“Together, they will work to strengthen Africa’s health systems and accelerate Universal Health Coverage across the continent,” the statement said.
Two Phases Shape the Summit’s Agenda
The Presidency outlined a structured two-day format for the summit, beginning with technical groundwork before moving into high-level decision-making.
On July 21, 2026, a Member State Experts Meeting will bring together senior officials from Ministries of Health, Finance, and Economic or Development Planning to prepare the technical foundation for ministerial and Heads of State deliberations.
The following day, July 22, 2026, the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government will convene to deliberate on and adopt key decisions shaping Africa’s health priorities.
This includes a Declaration aimed at accelerating implementation of the African Union Roadmap to 2030, a continental framework guiding health policy objectives across member states.
Ghana’s Domestic Health Reforms Underpin the Hosting Decision
According to the statement, Ghana’s selection to host this historic gathering reflects President Mahama’s resolve to lead by example on health policy within the continent. Under his administration, the statement noted, Ghana has undertaken several reforms aimed at expanding access to quality healthcare.
These include the rollout of the Free Primary Health Care Programme, the uncapping of the National Health Insurance Scheme to guarantee broader access to essential services, and the establishment of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as MahamaCares, a dedicated financing mechanism designed to support Universal Health Coverage.
Investment in Infrastructure and Local Manufacturing
Beyond these headline reforms, the Presidency stated that President Mahama is spearheading targeted investments in health infrastructure, workforce development, emergency preparedness, and local pharmaceutical manufacturing.
According to the statement, these investments directly align with the objectives of the Extraordinary Summit, reinforcing Ghana’s readiness to lead continental efforts to end AIDS and TB while reducing maternal mortality.
“This Summit is a critical opportunity for Africa to unite around a shared vision of health equity and justice. President Mahama is proud to have Ghana host this important continental dialogue, and we urge all stakeholders to work towards practical, people-centred solutions for the health and wellbeing of all Africans”.
Felix Kwakye Ofosu, MP, Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications
Tanzanian President to Lead Maternal Health Side Event
The summit will also feature a significant side event focused on maternal and child survival.
According to the statement, a Call to Action on Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Survival will be led by the African Union Champion for Maternal and Child Health, Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, in partnership with the Accra Reset initiative.
This side event underscores the summit’s broader emphasis on maternal health outcomes, an area that remains a persistent challenge across several African countries despite years of continental health policy attention.
Ghana Extends Welcome to Continental Leaders
The statement closed with a formal welcome extended by the Government of Ghana to all Heads of State, delegates and stakeholders expected to attend the summit. It reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to working alongside the African Union and its member states to advance the shared goal of Universal Health Coverage across the continent.
“The Government of Ghana extends a warm welcome to all Heads of State, delegates, and stakeholders, and reaffirms its commitment to working with the African Union and Member States to advance the shared goal of Universal Health Coverage across the continent. Let us work together to turn this commitment into action”.
Felix Kwakye Ofosu, MP, Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications
The statement was signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, MP, Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications, formalising the announcement on behalf of the Presidency.
As Accra prepares to welcome African leaders for the two-day gathering, the summit is expected to shape continental health policy discussions for years to come, particularly around financing mechanisms, disease elimination targets and strategies for achieving equitable healthcare access across a continent that continues to grapple with resource constraints and disparities in health outcomes between nations.
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