Mahama calls for tighter regulation of AI in healthcare

President John Dramani Mahama has urged African health regulators to tighten the rules governing digital healthcare and artificial intelligence (AI) to safeguard patients and enhance access to high-quality care. Speaking at the opening of the 28th Annual Scientific Conference of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa (AMCOA) in Accra on August 24, 2026, Mahama stressed the importance of responsibly governing the digital transformation of healthcare.

While acknowledging the benefits of technologies like telemedicine, electronic medical records, digital prescriptions, remote monitoring, and mobile applications, Mahama cautioned that these advancements also pose risks that need to be carefully managed. He recounted a situation in Ghana where a digital medical records system was disabled due to disagreements with the service provider, leading to a temporary return to paper records.

This incident highlighted the importance of strong safeguards when relying on privately managed digital health systems.

Mahama emphasized that the solution is not to fear technology but to shape it in the public interest. He warned against allowing AI to supplant the professional judgment and responsibility of healthcare professionals, stating that AI should complement, not replace, human expertise. Furthermore, Mahama cautioned that AI systems employed in healthcare could generate inaccurate results if trained on data that does not adequately represent African populations.

Therefore, African nations must take a more active role in developing and regulating health technologies.

Recognizing the relevance of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mahama called for health regulation to become an essential component of Africa's health security system. The pandemic underscored the necessity for countries to proactively prepare for future health emergencies. He identified emerging diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and climate-related health threats as significant challenges that African countries must address.

To tackle these issues, Mahama advocated for the adoption of the One Health approach, which encourages collaboration among human health, animal health, and environmental institutions.

By strengthening cooperation and implementing effective regulation, Mahama argued, African countries could better respond to emerging health threats while preserving patient welfare and bolstering public confidence in healthcare systems.