Global health must be led by countries, not designed for them – Mintah Akandoh
Ghana has renewed its call for a country-led global health system, with Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh telling the World Health Summit in Berlin that international health policies must be shaped with countries rather than imposed on them. His remarks come after the government rejected a proposed US$109 million health compact with the United States, citing concerns about provisions…
Ghana has advocated for a country-led global health system, emphasizing that health policies must be shaped in collaboration with, rather than imposed upon, individual nations. Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh emphasized this stance during the World Health Summit in Berlin, following the Ghanaian government's rejection of a proposed US$109 million health compact with the United States.
The government's concerns centered around issues like data privacy, financing obligations, and regulatory authority. Akandoh stated, "Global health must not be designed for countries; it must be designed with countries and led by countries." This perspective underscores Ghana's commitment to health sovereignty, focusing on safeguarding domestic decision-making and bolstering capacity for financing and managing healthcare.
The rejection of the proposed compact in April 2026 stemmed from worries over Ghana's pathogen profile, access to citizens' medical records, and restrictions on the Food and Drugs Authority's ability to inspect supplied medicines and medical products. These concerns highlight the ongoing tension between obtaining external health financing and preserving national control over sensitive health data, regulation, and policy decisions.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
