Health must be a pillar of economic growth — Mahama
By: Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
President John Dramani Mahama has called for a paradigm shift in how Ghana and other African nations approach health financing, urging policymakers to treat health not as a cost, but as a strategic investment vital to national development.
Speaking at the 2025 Africa Health Sovereignty Summit on Tuesday, August 5, President Mahama emphasized that strengthening health systems is essential to economic growth, job creation, and social equity.
“Health is wealth. We are not merely reacting to emergencies; we are building systems that create jobs, reduce inequalities, and uphold the dignity of every Ghanaian, no matter where you are,” he said.
The summit, themed “Reframing Health Financing for Africa’s Economic Resilience,” brought together health experts, economists, development partners, and government officials from across the continent.
Discussions focused on developing resilient, self-reliant health systems capable of withstanding future shocks while advancing long-term development.
President Mahama argued that health should be viewed as a productive sector with broad multiplier effects across industries, not as a financial liability.
“We must reframe the economies of well-being. Investing in health leads to improved human capital, increased labor productivity, and stronger economic performance,” he stated.
President Mahama noted that the current practice of categorizing health expenditure as a consumption cost in national budgets restricts innovation and undermines efforts to secure sustained funding for infrastructure, research, and preventive care.
To address this, he called on economists and financial policymakers to revise national accounting metrics to reflect health’s contribution to productivity and GDP.
“The time has come for our ministries of finance, health, and planning to harmonize strategies that position health as a central pillar of economic transformation,” President Mahama added.
The president emphasized the need to scale up domestic resource mobilization through health taxes, insurance mechanisms, and public-private partnerships to reduce reliance on foreign aid and emergency interventions.
He also urged governments to act with urgency and political will.
“Health must no longer be a side conversation in our economic planning; it must be at the center,” President Mahama added.
