President John Dramani Mahama has called on African leaders to intensify efforts to build a strong pharmaceutical manufacturing industry to reduce the continent’s dependence on imported medicines and medical supplies.
Speaking on the second day of the African Union Extraordinary Summit, President Mahama said Africa’s pharmaceutical manufacturing agenda had progressed beyond aspiration and was now entering the implementation stage.
He said the continent’s continued reliance on imported essential medicines and health commodities remains a major vulnerability that requires urgent action.
According to the President, increased investment in domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing would strengthen Africa’s health security while supporting industrial development across the continent.
President Mahama noted that expanding local manufacturing capacity would improve access to essential medicines and create employment opportunities for Africa’s growing youth population.
He also expressed concern over the decline in international development assistance for the health sector, stating that many African countries continue to depend heavily on external funding to sustain their healthcare systems.
The President described the situation as a critical moment for African countries to pursue homegrown solutions aimed at building more resilient and self-reliant health systems.
According to him, investment in healthcare should be viewed not only as a social responsibility but also as an economic strategy capable of driving industrial growth, creating jobs and supporting sustainable economic development.
President Mahama urged African Heads of State, health ministers, policymakers and development partners to move beyond policy declarations and translate their commitments into concrete action.
He stressed that the future of healthcare on the continent would depend on decisive leadership and sustained investment in local pharmaceutical manufacturing