President John Dramani Mahama today co-chaired the One Health Summit in Lyon alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, delivering a keynote address that highlighted the growing complexity of global health challenges.
Addressing world leaders and health experts at the summit, President Mahama reflected on the rapidly changing global landscape, warning that long-held assumptions about health security are increasingly being tested. He noted that emerging threats—from infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance to climate-related disruptions—are intensifying and becoming more interconnected.
“Much of what we previously took for granted is now being questioned,” he said, stressing the urgent need for a more integrated and proactive global response.
Central to his message was the importance of the One Health approach, which recognizes the deep links between human, animal, and environmental health. Mahama emphasized that this model is particularly critical for Africa, where these systems are closely intertwined and vulnerabilities are often amplified.
Drawing on Africa’s heritage, he called for a balanced strategy that combines traditional knowledge with modern scientific innovation to effectively tackle both current and future health threats.
Highlighting Ghana’s efforts, Mahama pointed to ongoing national interventions aimed at strengthening preventive healthcare systems and improving overall health outcomes. He reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to collaborating with international partners to build coordinated responses to evolving global risks.
The One Health Summit in France brings together global leaders, scientists, and policymakers to advance strategies that address health challenges at the intersection of people, animals, and the environment.
