Accra, Apr 08, – President John Dramani Mahama has called for urgent global action to address rising health threats, warning that climate change, disease outbreaks and inequality are increasingly interconnected and require coordinated responses.
Speaking at the One Health Summit 2026 in Lyon, France, President Mahama said the world must move beyond declarations and focus on practical implementation of agreed commitments.
“The period of declarations must come to an end. The moment for coordinated effort is here,” he said, adding that global leaders must prioritise action over pledges.
He outlined three key calls to action, beginning with the need to embed One Health strategies into national development plans and align them with a global public health framework.
He also urged stronger integration of One Health principles into international security systems to improve coordination across sectors.
As a third priority, the President called for the establishment of robust prevention systems supported by early warning surveillance mechanisms at community level.
“Let us concentrate on building a new preventive shield and an intelligent radar system at its source,” he said, stressing that such systems must be smart, agile and interoperable.
President Mahama warned that the world is facing a growing convergence of threats affecting humans, animals and plants, driven largely by climate change.
He cited illegal mining, deforestation, disease outbreaks and plastic pollution as major challenges undermining ecosystems and public health, including impacts on Ghana’s cocoa sector and water bodies.
He also highlighted global inequality in health preparedness, noting that vulnerable countries often lack the resources needed to respond effectively to crises.
“The countries that are most at risk have the least resources to cope with,” he said, calling for fair access to finance, technology and innovation.
He further emphasised that prevention is more cost-effective than cure, referencing Ghana’s ongoing investments in primary healthcare and health financing reforms.
The President concluded by urging world leaders to ensure that decisions taken at the summit translate into measurable outcomes.
“Let Lyon be the turning point,” he said.
GHBUSS
8 April 2026
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