Instead of B-2 bombers, the world can invest in saving over 500 million children - President Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has called on world leaders to prioritise investment in global child immunisation over military spending, describing it as a clear choice between saving lives and taking them.
In a Facebook post on June 26, 2025, President Mahama referenced the Gavi Alliance’s plan to spend $9 billion from 2026 to 2030 to vaccinate 500 million children across the world.
He said such an initiative could save millions of lives and give children the opportunity to grow into future scientists, teachers, doctors, engineers and nurses.
Mr Mahama compared the cost of vaccines to the price of weapons, stating that a single B-2 Spirit bomber, recently deployed in airstrikes on Iran, costs $2.13 billion. “If you work the math, Gavi seeks the value of four of those B-2 bombers,” he wrote.
“Surely, the world can invest the equivalent cost of four B-2 bombers to save 500 million children. It’s a choice we have to make. It’s a choice we have to make between taking lives and saving lives, and I am sure we will save lives instead of taking them,” he added.
President Mahama’s comments come at a time of renewed global debate over military expenditure and public health priorities. Ghana has consistently supported Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which works to expand access to vaccines in lower-income countries.
His remarks are in line with Ghana’s broader push to improve child health and immunisation rates, especially in the fight against preventable diseases such as measles, pneumonia and polio.
Mr Mahama’s appeal adds to growing international voices urging a reallocation of resources towards public health, particularly in the wake of recent global health emergencies and rising insecurity.
