#UNGA81: “Global South must gain control over health, development priorities” – President Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has urged for faster structural changes amid ongoing global political and economic difficulties. Addressing the Accra Reset on Monday, the President dismissed claims that substantial reforms should be delayed until global tensions ease. Instead, he advocated for leveraging current worldwide crises to reconsider established systems and introduce significant reforms. Mahama stated that "crisis is precisely why and when new paradigms are forged."

He emphasized health as one of the crucial pillars for the global reset due to its vital role in safeguarding human wellbeing. The focus on maternal and child health would be the primary metric to evaluate the success of the proposed reset. Mahama highlighted the persistent problem of maternal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, urging stronger actions to tackle this issue.

He highlighted that Ghana still faces considerable challenges in maternal healthcare, with the country's maternal mortality rate being three times higher than the Sustainable Development Goal target. Highlighting the severity of the issue, Mahama said, "We are still three times above the recommended SDG targets in maternal mortality. This is unacceptable."

He stressed that addressing this challenge necessitates a renewed commitment from Ghana and stronger international collaborations to enhance health systems and achieve better outcomes for mothers and children.