President John Dramani Mahama has arrived in Brussels, Belgium, as a prominent advocate and ambassador for the GAVI Alliance’s crucial vaccine replenishment efforts.
He is participating in the Global Summit on Health and Prosperity through Immunisation, co-hosted by the European Union, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Gavi Alliance. The summit aims to secure critical support for Gavi’s 2026–2030 strategy, which targets the immunisation of an additional 500 million children, the prevention of over 8 million deaths, and the protection of vulnerable populations against up to 150 disease outbreaks. The projected outcome is expected to generate more than $100 billion in economic benefits.
President Mahama’s presence at the summit underscores the importance of global cooperation in ensuring equitable access to vaccines, particularly in lower-income countries. Having witnessed firsthand the transformational impact of immunisation efforts in Ghana and across Africa, Mahama has been a consistent voice for a fully funded Gavi.
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His advocacy for the Vaccine Alliance dates back to 2013, when he first supported Gavi’s mission to save lives by expanding access to vaccines for children across developing countries.
Ahead of the summit’s official pledging session, President Mahama held a series of high-level bilateral meetings in Brussels. He met with a delegation led by Gavi Board Chair, José Manuel Barroso, and later engaged in discussions with American philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder, Bill Gates.
During the meeting, Mr. Barroso expressed appreciation for President Mahama’s long-standing support and welcomed his participation in the pledging session, describing his role as “instrumental” in mobilising global commitment.
In a separate meeting with Mr. Gates, President Mahama discussed Ghana’s health sector priorities and progress. Key areas included the rollout of the Free Primary Healthcare programme, the operations of the newly established National Vaccine Institute, and the impact of the government’s decision to uncap the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
Mahama commended Mr. Gates and the Gates Foundation for their longstanding partnership and contributions to Ghana’s health and development sectors, including their pivotal support to the Gavi Vaccine Alliance.
The summit provides a platform for renewed donor commitments, bringing together governments, international organisations, civil society, industry leaders, and community voices. It also highlights the effectiveness of public-private partnerships in achieving large-scale health outcomes.
Since its inception in 2000, Gavi has helped vaccinate more than 1 billion children, prevented an estimated 18.8 million deaths, and delivered over $250 billion in economic gains to lower-income economies.
While in Brussels, President Mahama is also expected to hold further engagements with global leaders, including a meeting with the President of the EU Council of Ministers, as he continues to champion global health equity and vaccine access for all.
Source: Ghana/starrfm.com.gh/Emmanuel Mensah
