Africa’s health transformation takes centre stage in Accra

…as the WHX Leaders Africa Summit opens

More than 300 elite health leaders from across Africa, including ministers, investors, multinational CEOs and policymakers have convened in Accra for the opening of World Health Expo (WHX) Leaders Africa Summit.

Themed “Catalysing Africa’s Health Revolution through Investment, Innovation, Impact and Infrastructure” this year’s high-level summit is being held in Ghana under the patronage of H.E. President John Dramani Mahama and it opened with a resounding call for accelerated financing, strengthened partnerships and bold leadership.

Delivering the opening address, President John Dramani Mahama highlighted the urgency of strengthening Africa’s health security frameworks while scaling innovation and regional manufacturing through partnerships.

“Governments need to combine forces with the private sector and other partners to make sure we have universal health care”. President Mahama stated. “WHX Leaders Africa is a defining continental moment where Africa asserts its rightful place. Let’s recommit ourselves to shape our own future. Africa cannot afford to be a bystander. Africa must be a participant in shaping our own future.”

This year’s Summit aims to unlock strategic investments andforge alliances that will create world-class, resilient healthcare systems in Africa.

In his keynote address, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Minister for Health, Ghana, emphasised Ghana’s commitment to driving continental progress and charged stakeholders to embrace partnerships.

“We are not at WHX Leaders Africa to talk about the future,we are here to build it.” Minister Akandoh said. “Let this summit be remembered as the time Africa took the chance to build resilient partnerships because even the strongest national visions cannot succeed without partnerships. Partnerships in the health sector are not optional, they are indispensable. And when they are aligned with national visions, they amplify our strength.”

Opening the summit on behalf of Informa Markets, Peter Hall, President for Middle East, India, Türkiye & Africa, reaffirmed the company’s long-term commitment to building platforms that unlock investment and create enduring partnerships.

“WHX Leaders Africa is not an assembly of expertise but a call to action. We are aiming to create a powerful platform capable of shaping investment priorities and unlocking sustainable solutions. At Informa Markets, we remaincommitted to ensuring WHX Leaders Africa becomes a truly catalytic platform that sparks new alliances, amplifies local and regional ambitions and accelerates momentum”.

Following the opening ceremony, a series of ministerial and executive-led sessions exploring core pillars of Africa’s health transformation were held focusing on infrastructure investment, local pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing, women’s health and family planning, centres of medical excellence and sustainable healthcare financing.

African Ministers of Health from Botswana, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan and Guinea were joined by high level leaders fromorganisations such as Siemens Healthineers, Africa CDC, Pfizer, Mount Sinai International, ABCHealth, the Gates Foundation, Hologic, Roche Diagnostics in sharing insights on policy reforms, financing models, talent development strategies and public-private partnerships needed to accelerate progress.

As the summit moves into Day 2, attention will shift toward digital health, AI-driven diagnostics, biotech and R&D partnerships, NCD response strategies, disease surveillance,and a reimagined continental approach to HIV prevention and treatment.

With technology leaders, development finance institutions and government actors convening once again, WHX Leaders Africa will continue mobilising the solutions and investments required to drive long-term, equitable healthcare transformation.

Hosted in Accra, the Summit underscores Ghana’s growing influence as a continental convener and Informa’s role as a global catalyst for healthcare investment.

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