Korede Abdullah in Lagos
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has called for a fundamental rethinking of global health governance that puts Africa at the centre of decision-making, innovation, financing, and trade.
Speaking at the Africa Health Sovereignty Summit in Accra, Ghana, on Wednesday, Pate said the time has come for a “new vision for global health that places Africa at the core of future governance.”
Challenging current frameworks, Pate criticized the tendency to reduce global health to a limited set of priorities shaped by external actors.
“Global health is often described through the lens of a few priority issues, like HIV, malaria and tuberculosis,” he noted, adding that such narratives often ignore the perspectives of African nations.
“These issues are framed by externally driven perspectives, leaving African voices, especially from poorer countries, less acknowledged,” he stressed.
Pate emphasized that real health progress in many African countries has not been solely donor-driven, but rather anchored in local leadership and domestic investment.
“Most health progress in lower-income countries over the past 25 years has depended on domestic financing and local leadership, with donor support playing a complementary role,” he said, urging a shift in focus toward empowering African health systems from within.
