Ghana has been selected by France as the first beneficiary of its newly introduced National Health Compact, marking a major diplomatic and development milestone during the official state visit of John Dramani Mahama to Paris.
The announcement, made by Emmanuel Macron, followed high-level bilateral talks between the two leaders and underscores Ghana’s rising influence in global health policy as well as the deepening strategic partnership between the two nations.
During the meeting, the two leaders discussed bilateral trade, cooperation, regional and global security issues and the impact on countries far off from the zone of action.
They also discussed cooperation in agriculture to ensure food security and year-round farming, AI development, support for maternal health, the Accra-Kumasi expressway and building on French support through the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) over the years.
Historic health partnership takes centre stage
The National Health Compact, introduced by France, is designed as a platform to strengthen healthcare systems in partner countries through coordinated investment, policy alignment, and technical support.
Ghana’s selection as the first beneficiary places it at the forefront of this new international health initiative.
President Mahama welcomed the development, describing it as a significant endorsement of Ghana’s health sector reforms and broader development agenda.
He noted that the country’s “Accra Reset Initiative” had already outlined concrete deliverables that would be reviewed and implemented, reflecting what he described as growing global confidence in Ghana’s policy direction.
President Mahama said, he was honoured to be invited to co-chair the One Health Summit and acknowledged the success of the summit and its importance to the World Health Organization (WHO).
He noted that he was happy that the Accra Reset had outlined some deliverables to review.
He expressed gratitude to his French counterpart for Ghana’s selection as the first beneficiary of the health compact.
President Mahama highlighted Ghana and France’s good relations because of the agreement on some key issues, including democracy, the rules-based system, peace and security.
He also expressed gratitude to both France and China for the support with Ghana’s debt restructuring and announced that the economy had bounced back and was doing very well, with very positive indicators.
President Macron, for his part, highlighted Ghana’s leadership in global health discussions, particularly its role in advancing collaborative approaches to pandemic preparedness and health system resilience.
He thanked President Mahama for honouring his invitation and co-chairing the One Health Summit in Lyon.
President Macron further acknowledged the work done by President Mahama with the Accra Reset Initiative, describing it as very important and the references to it during the Lyon summit.
State honours and high-level diplomacy
President Mahama’s visit was marked by full state honours at Les Invalides, where he received a ceremonial welcome complete with military precision and tradition—symbolising the longstanding diplomatic ties between Ghana and France.
The Ghanaian leader later proceeded to the Élysée Palace for official talks with President Macron.
The meeting, held at the invitation of the French leader, represented a significant step in strengthening bilateral relations across multiple sectors.
Prior to the bilateral meeting, President Mahama and his delegation also held discussions with Gérard Larcher, focusing on expanding trade and investment, enhancing regional security cooperation, and deepening joint efforts to combat terrorism in West Africa.
One Health Summit: Ghana’s global voice
A major highlight of the visit was the One Health Summit 2026 in Lyon, which President Mahama co-chaired alongside President Macron.
The summit brought together global leaders to address the interconnected challenges of human, animal, and environmental health.
In a strongly worded address, President Mahama called on the international community to move beyond declarations and commit to concrete action.
“The period of declarations must come to an end. The moment for coordinated effort is here, and let us start from Lyon,” he declared.
He outlined a three-point “Call to Action,” urging countries to prioritise implementation over pledges, integrate “One Health” strategies into national development frameworks, and establish preventive systems capable of detecting and containing disease outbreaks at their source.
President Mahama linked global health threats directly to climate change, environmental degradation, and inequality, warning that antimicrobial resistance, food system disruptions, and pollution are intensifying risks across the world.
Drawing from Ghana’s experience, he cited the impact of illegal mining on water bodies and biodiversity, as well as the challenges faced by smallholder cocoa farmers due to environmental changes.
He also emphasised the need for equitable access to financing and technology, noting that global health security is only as strong as its weakest link.
“A healthy and thriving Africa is no threat to anyone. It will be a positive force for global progress,” he said.
Expanding cooperation across key sectors
Beyond health, the bilateral talks between Presidents Mahama and Macron covered a wide range of strategic areas, including agriculture, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and economic recovery.
A key infrastructure project discussed was the proposed Accra–Kumasi Expressway, identified as critical to Ghana’s economic transformation and requiring international collaboration.
The two leaders also explored initiatives to promote food security through year-round farming, strengthen maternal health services, and accelerate the development of artificial intelligence capabilities.
President Mahama used the opportunity to thank France and China for their roles in supporting Ghana’s debt restructuring process, noting that the country’s economy has shown strong signs of recovery.
“The economy has bounced back and is doing very well, with very positive indicators,” he said.
The discussions further highlighted the longstanding role of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) in supporting Ghana’s development agenda, with both sides agreeing to build on existing partnerships.
Strengthening global and regional security
Security issues also featured prominently in the discussions, with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to maintaining stability in the West African sub-region amid rising global tensions.
President Mahama emphasised that Ghana and France share common values rooted in democracy, the rules-based international system, and global peace.
“Ghana and France stand together on key issues of peace and security,” he stated, as the leaders examined the impact of global conflicts and explored strategies to mitigate their effects on distant regions.
Return home and next steps
President Mahama returned to Accra on the evening of April 8 following the successful conclusion of the visit.
His delegation included Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, National Security Advisor Prosper Bani, Executive Secretary to the President Dr Callistus Mahama, Presidential Advisor Joyce Bawa Mogtari, and Ghana’s Ambassador to France, Mavis Frimpong.
The visit is widely regarded as a significant step in strengthening Ghana–France relations, with the National Health Compact expected to play a transformative role in Ghana’s healthcare system.
As Ghana moves to operationalise the initiative, the country is poised to leverage new financing, technical expertise, and global partnerships to improve health outcomes, enhance resilience against future pandemics, and solidify its position as a key player in global health leadership.
