The African Regional Director of the World Health Organisation, Dr Mohamed Yakub Janabi, has called for stronger collaboration between Ghana and other African countries to ensure effective health care delivery across the continent.
Speaking during a meeting with Ghana’s Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, Dr Janabi applauded Ghana’s Accra Reset Initiative, describing it as a bold step toward strengthening health systems.
Dr Janabi warned that challenges will persist if all 47 African countries fail to coordinate efforts to boost productivity in health care.
“I would really like to look at this reset in a bigger picture. Sovereignty is good, but 47 sovereignties without coordination can be challenging. If nobody coordinates, one day we could all wake up producing the same vaccine, for example, cholera, without talking to each other,” Dr Janabi said.
He reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s health care framework but stressed that continental cooperation remains crucial.
Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh said Ghana is taking health care seriously, noting that the Accra Reset will deliver concrete results in the best interest of the people.
“We believe health reforms must be country-owned. Partnerships are important, but they must be built on mutual respect. Local resource mobilization is key, because when you invest your own resources, they don’t come with strings attached, and you get the full benefits.”
Dr Janabi also highlighted that despite financial constraints on global institutions, the WHO successfully eradicated Ebola within six months.
“We have noted and everywhere the entire world at the moment the increasing constraint of global financial environment for multilateral institution including we as WHO at a time when there’s rising demand on country and regions. Despite all this financial shift you hear, what did Africa do last year? We had an outbreak of Ebola in August. We contained it in 60 days. By collaboration of the UN agencies, the government of Congo, CDC Africa, we contained it. This shows what coordinated action can achieve,” he said.
He concluded that Ghana is on the right path and must not relent in its efforts. He praised the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, known as Mahama Care, as a landmark initiative addressing financial hardship from chronic and non-communicable disease care, complementing the NHIS.
“Mahama Care is an innovative domestic financing mechanism aligned with universal health coverage and social protection. This is one initiative we are here to support,” Dr Janabi assured.
