Kwabena Mintah Akandoh urges shift in global health policy at Berlin summit

Ghana’s Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has called for a fundamental shift in the design of international health frameworks, urging global stakeholders to develop policies ‘with countries, rather than for them.’ Speaking at the World Health Summit in Berlin, the Minister emphasized that true global health security can only be achieved through genuine collaboration, solidarity, and national ownership of healthcare priorities. He argued that the era of imposing external decisions on sovereign nations must end to ensure more effective health outcomes.

Akandoh noted that the prevailing model of international decision-making often fails to account for the unique contexts and local needs of individual nations, leading to gaps in implementation and impact. By advocating for a move toward solidarity, the Minister suggested that the global community could foster a more resilient health ecosystem. This approach, he argued, ensures that every nation feels a sense of responsibility and partnership in addressing shared health challenges rather than merely acting as a recipient of directives.

The Minister’s address directly aligned with President John Mahama’s ‘Accra Reset’ agenda, which focuses on repositioning Ghana as a leader in self-sustaining development and local empowerment. Akandoh highlighted Ghana’s own domestic initiatives as practical examples of this vision, specifically referencing the government’s commitment to Free Primary Healthcare and the MahamaCares program. These initiatives are intended to strengthen the national healthcare system from the ground up, ensuring services are accessible and equitable for all citizens.

In his concluding remarks, Akandoh reiterated that the success of global health initiatives is intrinsically linked to the strength of local systems. He called on international partners to support these domestic efforts through technical cooperation and resource sharing that empowers local authorities rather than dictating terms. The Minister's participation in the Berlin summit underscores Ghana's active role in shaping international health discourse under the current administration’s vision for more inclusive and effective global health governance.