Extraordinary African Union summit on health in Ghana to accelerate the elimination of AIDS and tuberculosis
Expected recommendations and decisions at the level of heads of state
Written by Ziad Abdel Fattah:
The Ghanaian capital, Accra, will host an extraordinary African Union summit on July 21 and 22, 2026, to discuss the future of the health sector on the continent, with the participation of heads of state and government, ministers and high-level officials, as part of efforts to strengthen Health sovereignty Expanding the scope of universal health care in Africa.
The summit focuses on accelerating the implementation of the African Union's health goals by 2030, foremost among them the elimination of AIDS and tuberculosis, and the reduction of maternal mortality, in addition to supporting local drug manufacturing and enhancing the ability of African countries to cope with health crises.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssef, said ahead of the summit that the meeting represents an opportunity to turn commitments into practical steps, stressing the importance of adopting effective policies that ensure improved health services and promote equity in access to care within the continent.
Broad African participation
The summit is being hosted by Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama and will include the participation of ministers of health, finance and foreign affairs, along with officials from the African Union Commission, regional economic communities, development partners, civil society organizations, and representatives of youth and the private sector.
The summit is being held under the theme “Promoting Justice, Equality and Universal Health Coverage: Eliminating AIDS and Tuberculosis, Improving Maternal Health and Addressing Noncommunicable Diseases and Neglected Tropical Diseases in Africa,” where participants will discuss mechanisms for expanding access to health services and improving the response to the health challenges facing the countries of the continent.
According to a statement from the Ghanaian presidency, the summit will be held in two phases; the first day is dedicated to expert meetings to prepare technical recommendations, while on the second day, heads of state and government will discuss those recommendations in preparation for adopting resolutions and a new declaration aimed at accelerating the implementation of the African Union's roadmap for health until 2030.
The Ghanaian presidency affirmed that Accra’s hosting of the summit reflects Ghana’s growing role in supporting health issues at the continental level, noting that the government is implementing a package of initiatives to develop the health sector, including expanding primary health care services, strengthening the national health insurance system, and establishing the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (MahamaCares) to support the financing of health services.
The government also continues to invest in developing health infrastructure, increasing the number of medical personnel, and enhancing the sector’s readiness to face emergencies, in addition to expanding local drug manufacturing with the aim of reducing dependence on imports and enhancing drug security.
On the sidelines of the summit, a special event on maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health will be held, led by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, in her capacity as African Union Champion for Maternal and Child Health, in partnership with the Accra Rest Initiative, as part of efforts to improve reproductive health indicators and childcare on the continent.
The summit is expected to produce a set of recommendations and decisions aimed at accelerating the achievement of universal health coverage and strengthening cooperation between African countries to address current and future health challenges.
The President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, left the country via Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam today, heading to Accra, Ghana, to participate in the summit.
