President John Dramani Mahama has cautioned against attempts to shield global health institutions from meaningful reforms, stressing that the world cannot prioritise “institutional comfort over human survival” at a time many countries remain vulnerable to health emergencies.

Addressing delegates at the 79th World Health Assembly on Monday, May 18, President Mahama said efforts to reform the global health architecture would lose credibility if they were designed to protect existing systems instead of addressing weaknesses exposed by recent global health crises.

According to him, Ghana, which co-chaired the working group for the Lusaka Agenda, strongly supports reforms aimed at strengthening global health systems. However, he expressed concern that some draft resolutions appeared to limit recommendations that could lead to major institutional changes.

President Mahama argued that reform processes that avoid difficult but necessary decisions would fail to achieve meaningful results.

“Do not let the sight of those eating roasted maize force you to cook your maize seeds,” he said, explaining that reforms must focus on saving lives rather than preserving bureaucratic structures.

The President also used the occasion to advocate for what he described as “health sovereignty” for African countries.

He explained that true health sovereignty should enable nations to finance essential healthcare services, regulate quality standards, manufacture medicines locally, and effectively manage their own health data systems.

President Mahama noted that Africa’s heavy dependence on imported vaccines and medical supplies continues to expose the continent to supply chain disruptions and unequal access during global health emergencies.

According to him, a continent that bears nearly 25 per cent of the global disease burden while producing less than one per cent of the world’s vaccines remains highly vulnerable.

“A continent that carries nearly 25% of the global disease burden while producing less than 1% of the world’s vaccines is not sovereign, it is vulnerable,” he stated.

The President further highlighted the increasing administrative pressures faced by health officials in developing countries, arguing that many ministers in the Global South now spend more time preparing donor reports than strengthening primary healthcare systems.

He called for reforms to global health financing and governance structures to give countries greater control over their healthcare priorities while promoting sustainable and locally driven solutions.