Stakeholders deliberate on Africa’s health revolution
More than 300 health leaders across the continent, including ministers, investors, multinational CEOs and policymakers, have convened in Accra for this year’s World Health Expo (WHX) Leaders Africa Summit with a call for accelerated financing, strengthened partnerships and bold leadership.
On the theme, “Catalysing Africa’s Health Revolution through Investment, Innovation, Impact and Infrastructure”, this year’s high-level summit is being held in Ghana under the patronage of President John Dramani Mahama.
The summit underscores Ghana’s growing influence as a continental convener and Informa’s role as a global catalyst for healthcare investment. This year’s summit aims to unlock strategic investments and forge alliances that will create world-class, resilient healthcare systems in Africa.
Key among issues that took centre stage include digital health, AI-driven diagnostics, biotech and R&D partnerships, NCD response strategies, disease surveillance, and a reimagined continental approach to HIV prevention and treatment.
It also featured a series of ministerial and executive-led sessions exploring core pillars of Africa’s health transformation, focusing on infrastructure investment, local pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing, women’s health and family planning, centres of medical excellence and sustainable healthcare financing.
Opening
Opening the summit in Accra last Tuesday, President Mahama stressed the need to strengthen the continent’s health security frameworks while scaling innovation and regional manufacturing through partnerships.
“Governments need to combine forces with the private sector and other partners to make sure we have universal health care.”
“WHX Leaders Africa is a defining continental moment where Africa asserts its rightful place. Let’s recommit ourselves to shape our own future. Africa cannot afford to be a bystander.
Africa must be a participant in shaping our own future,” President Mahama stated.
Commitment
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, emphasised Ghana’s commitment to driving continental progress and charged stakeholders to embrace partnerships.
“We are not at WHX Leaders Africa to talk about the future; we are here to build it.”
“Let this summit be remembered as the time Africa took the chance to build resilient partnerships because even the strongest national visions cannot succeed without partnerships.
Partnerships in the health sector are not optional; they are indispensable.
And when they are aligned with national visions, they amplify our strength,” Mr Akandoh said.
President for Middle East, India, Türkiye and Africa, Peter Hall, reaffirmed the company’s long-term commitment to building platforms that unlock investment and create enduring partnerships.
“WHX Leaders Africa is not an assembly of expertise but a call to action.
We are aiming to create a powerful platform capable of shaping investment priorities and unlocking sustainable solutions.
At Informa Markets, we remain committed to ensuring WHX Leaders Africa becomes a truly catalytic platform that sparks new alliances, amplifies local and regional ambitions and accelerates momentum,” he stated.
