‘No ownership without control’ – Mahama pushes new global health financing model through 'Accra Reset'

President John Dramani Mahama has launched a High-Level Panel Report under the Accra Reset initiative, calling for greater control by Global South countries over their health financing, resources and production capabilities.

The report, titled "A Sovereign Future for Health," was launched on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on Monday, September 21.

It sets out what President Mahama described as a new global bargain based on ownership, cooperation and domestic accountability, with a particular focus on reducing reliance on foreign donor funding for healthcare.

“Today, through the Accra Reset, we declare unequivocally that there can be NO ownership without control,” President Mahama wrote in a social media post.

He said the initiative seeks to change the long-standing model under which countries are expected to take ownership of health programmes while key decisions on funding and priorities remain with external partners.

President Mahama also linked the initiative to his government’s Resetting Ghana Agenda, saying Ghana is strengthening fiscal management, fighting corruption and building local industrial capacity to support the domestic production of essential medicines.

He said sovereignty must also come with accountability, arguing that greater control over health resources must be matched by measures to ensure public funds are properly managed.

“The report sets out a clear path for a New Global Bargain built on Ownership backed by real control over our resources and production capabilities, Cooperation defined by human dignity, mature, equal partnerships with global allies, and Absolute domestic accountability,” he said.

According to the President, health has been selected as the first major area of focus, with efforts targeting the unacceptable levels of maternal mortality across sub-Saharan Africa.

He cited initiatives including Mother Africa and Business United for Mothers, Babies and Youth (BUMBY) as part of efforts to translate the commitments into practical interventions for mothers, babies and young people.