UNGA81: Maternal and Child Health is our ‘first critical test’

President John Dramani Mahama has identified maternal and child health as a key test of the proposed global health reset. He said countries need stronger health systems and more sustainable ways to finance healthcare.

President Mahama made the remarks on Monday, September 21, 2026, in New York. He was speaking at a high-level side event on the Accra Reset: Global Reset Dialogue during the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

The event also marked the launch of the High-Level Panel report, A Sovereign Future for Health.

The report contains 10 recommendations for reforming global health governance. It also focuses on strengthening health systems at national and regional levels.

President Mahama said health was chosen as the first focus of the Accra Reset because it directly affects human life.

He also said health systems remain vulnerable when international funding changes.

“Many a time, out of chaos are born new ideas and partnerships. Health is any human’s most precious possession,” he said.

“That is why we selected health as the first battleground for this global reset, and why maternal and child health is our first critical test.”

The President also drew attention to maternal deaths in Africa.

He said nearly seven out of 10 maternal deaths worldwide occur in Sub-Saharan Africa.

President Mahama further said Ghana’s maternal mortality situation remains three times above the recommended Sustainable Development Goal target. “This is unacceptable,” he said.

He said Ghana and its partners are working to bring public policy and private-sector support together to protect mothers, children and young people.

President Mahama mentioned the Mother Africa initiative, championed by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

He also mentioned the Business United for Mothers, Babies and Youth (BUMBY) campaign.

“Through the Mother Africa initiative, championed by my dear sister, President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, and the Business United for Mothers, Babies and Youth (BUMBY) campaign, we are bringing public policy and corporate responsibility together to safeguard the lives of mothers and children,” he said.

According to President Mahama, these initiatives will also help test the new financial and governance approach.

“These initiatives will stress-test our new financial and governance architecture in real-time, delivering measurable results where they matter most,” he said.

The focus on maternal and child health is part of the wider Accra Reset agenda. The initiative seeks to strengthen national and regional health systems. It also aims to promote stronger cooperation between countries and international partners.

The A Sovereign Future for Health report includes recommendations on health financing, regional manufacturing, procurement, innovation and accountability.

President Mahama also connected the global health agenda to Ghana’s domestic reforms. He said Ghana must increase local production of essential medicines instead of depending heavily on foreign suppliers.

“When we say we are resetting Ghana’s health sector, we do not mean simply building medical facilities and waiting for foreign donors to supply the essential vaccines or IV fluids,” he said.

“We mean building local industrial capacity, encouraging our domestic pharmaceutical companies in Ghana to manufacture essential medicines locally, backed by guaranteed state purchasing and regional market access.”

President Mahama said this approach would help Ghana build a stronger and more resilient health system.

He also thanked World Health Organisation Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus for his support for global health reform.

The Accra Reset is now moving from policy design to implementation. Ghana will work with governments, health organisations, development finance institutions, philanthropies and private-sector partners.

President Mahama said the success of the initiative should be measured by its impact on people’s lives.

For him, maternal and child health will provide an important measure of whether the proposed reforms can deliver real and lasting results.