In a significant move to fortify Ghana’s public health infrastructure and bolster regional health security, President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday hosted the Director General of the African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Dr. Jean Kaseya, at the presidency.

The high-level meeting signaled deepening cooperation between Ghana and the continental health body as both parties signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) focusing on data sharing and cross-border disease surveillance.

The newly signed agreement is expected to strengthen epidemic intelligence, enabling Ghana and neighboring countries to detect and respond to disease outbreaks more swiftly and efficiently.

Officials say this partnership reflects a growing emphasis on self-reliance and proactive health measures across Africa.

At a subsequent press briefing, the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, underscored the country's readiness to confront future health crises, noting that the painful lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic had informed strategic shifts in health sector planning.

“We have learnt our lessons, and Ghana is adequately preparing for any future pandemic. We thank the Africa CDC for its continuous support,” he said.

According to the Minister, Ghana has received approximately $2.4 million in support to strengthen its primary health care system.

Additionally, about 400 epidemiologists have been trained under the partnership.

The Africa CDC has also facilitated the mobilization of an estimated $1.6 million to support the procurement of digital coaching tools and IT equipment essential for modern disease surveillance and response mechanisms.

Dr. Jean Kaseya, who took office as the head of Africa CDC in 2023, used the occasion to highlight the urgent need for African nations to chart a path toward financial independence in the health sector.

“We must prepare for a future where we are not reliant on external donor support,” he stated. His comments come amid a global shift in donor funding priorities, which many experts fear could leave African health systems exposed in the event of another global health emergency.

This latest development is part of Ghana's broader commitment to reinforcing its health infrastructure following the global COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed deep vulnerabilities in public health systems across the continent.

Under President Mahama's administration, Ghana has renewed its investment in epidemic preparedness, with a special focus on early detection, community health systems, and regional partnerships.

The Africa CDC, established in 2017 under the African Union, has become a central player in guiding member states through public health emergencies.

It played a critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic by coordinating responses, facilitating vaccine distribution, and supporting local health systems. With this new agreement, Ghana hopes to further embed itself in Africa CDC’s continent-wide initiatives to build a more resilient health security architecture.