President John Dramani Mahama will host the African Union Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Accra from July 21 to 22, 2026.
The summit will be held under the theme “Advancing Justice, Equity and Universal Health Coverage: Ending AIDS, TB, Improving Maternal Health, Addressing Endemic Non-Communicable and Neglected Tropical Diseases and Conditions in Africa.”
According to a statement from the Presidency, the meeting will bring together African Heads of State and Government, Ministers of Health, Finance and Foreign Affairs, the African Union Commission, Regional Economic Communities, development partners, civil society organisations, youth representatives and private sector actors.
The summit will take place in two phases. On July 21, a Member State Experts Meeting of senior officials from Ministries of Health, Finance, and Economic Development will lay the technical groundwork for deliberations. On July 22, the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government will convene to deliberate on and adopt key decisions shaping Africa’s health priorities, including a declaration to accelerate implementation of the African Union Roadmap to 2030.
The Presidency said Ghana’s decision to host the summit reflects President Mahama’s sustained investment in equitable healthcare delivery.
Under his administration, Ghana has rolled out the Free Primary Health Care Programme, unveiled the National Health Insurance Scheme to guarantee broader access to essential services, and established the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, “MahamaCares”, as a dedicated financing mechanism to support Universal Health Coverage.
President Mahama is also spearheading targeted investments in health infrastructure, workforce development, emergency preparedness, and local pharmaceutical manufacturing.
An important side event of the summit will be a call to action on maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health by the African Union Champion for Maternal and Child Health, H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, in partnership with the Accra Reset.
The statement noted that the summit presents a critical opportunity for Africa to unite around a shared vision of health equity and justice.
The government extended a warm welcome to all Heads of State, delegates, and stakeholders, and reaffirmed its commitment to working with the African Union and Member States to advance the shared goal of Universal Health Coverage across the continent.
