The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr Victor Asare Bampoe, has joined Ghana’s delegation at the African Union (AU) Extraordinary Summit on Health, held in Accra to strengthen continental efforts towards achieving sustainable healthcare for all Africans.
The two-day high-level summit, which opened on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, brought together Health Ministers, policymakers, development partners, health experts and key stakeholders from across Africa to deliberate on critical health challenges confronting the continent and agree on strategies to accelerate progress.
The meeting, hosted by the Government of Ghana under the auspices of the African Union, focused on major health priorities including ending AIDS by 2030, eliminating preventable maternal and child deaths, addressing communicable and non-communicable diseases, and developing resilient health systems capable of responding to emerging health threats.
Dr Bampoe’s participation highlighted Ghana’s commitment to advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through sustainable health financing, digital transformation and ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare services for all citizens.
His presence at the summit also reflected the NHIA’s role in supporting national and continental efforts to make healthcare more accessible, affordable and inclusive, particularly through the strengthening of Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Speaking on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama at the opening ceremony, the Minister of Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, said Ghana’s hosting of the summit went beyond providing a venue for discussions, stressing that the country remained a committed partner in Africa’s collective efforts to build a healthier and more self-reliant continent.
“Ghana’s role is not merely as a host, but as a committed partner in Africa’s collective pursuit of a healthier, more dignified and self-reliant continent,” he said.
The summit provided an opportunity for African countries to review progress on previous health commitments, identify persistent gaps in healthcare delivery and adopt innovative approaches towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union Agenda 2063.
In line with Ghana’s health transformation agenda, the Health Minister highlighted several government initiatives aimed at improving healthcare financing and expanding access to essential medical services.
Among the interventions mentioned were the uncapping of the National Health Insurance Levy, the introduction of the Free Primary Healthcare Programme, the establishment of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, and measures to promote local pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Hon. Akandoh stressed the importance of African countries taking greater responsibility for financing their health systems, noting that sustainable healthcare development depended on stronger domestic investment.
“A continent that finances its own health secures its own future,” he stated.
The government’s commitment to strengthening primary healthcare, improving maternal and child health outcomes, and ensuring access to essential health services formed a major part of Ghana’s contribution to the discussions.
For the NHIA, the summit offered a strategic platform to reinforce its mandate of expanding health insurance coverage, improving efficiency through technology and supporting policies that guarantee financial protection for citizens seeking healthcare.
Dr Bampoe’s engagement at the continental gathering further demonstrated the Authority’s readiness to collaborate with local and international partners to promote innovative solutions that will improve healthcare delivery in Ghana and across Africa.
The AU Extraordinary Summit on Health is expected to produce renewed commitments and practical strategies aimed at accelerating progress towards a healthier Africa where quality healthcare becomes accessible to every citizen regardless of social or economic status.
