President John Dramani Mahama has called on world leaders to urgently move beyond promises and take concrete action in addressing rising global health threats, warning that climate change, disease, and inequality are increasingly interconnected.
Speaking at the One Health Summit 2026 in Lyon, France, the President stressed that the world can no longer rely on declarations alone.
“The period of declarations must come to an end. The moment for coordinated effort is here,” he said, urging leaders to prioritise implementation over rhetoric.
President John Dramani Mahama has called for urgent and equitable global action on rising health threats at the One Health Summit 2026, urging leaders to move from commitments to practical solutions.
He outlined three key priorities, including a stronger alignment between global health strategies and national development plans, as well as the creation of robust surveillance systems to detect and respond to emerging threats early.
Mahama also highlighted the growing strain on health systems due to environmental degradation, citing challenges in Ghana such as illegal mining, which continues to pollute water bodies and destroy forests, as well as pest and disease threats affecting smallholder cocoa farmers.
“Every species is in the crosshairs, animals, humans, and plants,” he noted, pointing to the widespread impact of climate change and environmental destruction on global ecosystems.
The President emphasised that the One Health approach—which links human, animal, and environmental health—is critical, especially for Africa, where communities have long depended on natural systems for medicine and survival.
He further called for equitable access to financing, technology, and innovation, arguing that countries most vulnerable to health threats often lack the resources to respond effectively.
“Regrettably, as I speak to you today, the countries that are most at risk have the least resources to cope. This must change,” he stated.
Mahama concluded by urging global cooperation to build stronger, more responsive health systems, stressing that decisions taken at the summit must lead to “tangible, measurable outcomes for our people and our planet.”
