“Let Lyon Be the Turning Point”: President Mahama proposes bold 3-point agenda for global health security

President John Dramani Mahama has issued a stirring call to global leaders to move beyond rhetoric and embrace a new era of coordinated action to safeguard the health of the planet and its inhabitants.

Speaking at the One Health Summit 2026, which he co-chaired with President Emmanuel Macron in Lyon, Paris, President Mahama outlined a visionary three-point "Call to Action" to address the converging threats of climate change, emerging diseases, and global inequality.

"The period of declarations must come to an end. The moment for coordinated effort is here, and let us start from Lyon," the President declared.

To achieve this, President Mahama proposed three strategic pillars:
1. Action over Pledges: A transition from political commitment to the rigorous implementation of health protocols.
2. Global Integration: The embedding of "One Health" strategies-which link human, animal, and environmental health-into national development agendas and a new, unified global public health framework.
3. The Preventive Shield: The establishment of an "intelligent radar system" at the community level. The President described this as a smart, agile, and interoperable early warning mechanism designed to stop pandemics at their source before they cross borders.

President Mahama drew a direct line between the global climate crisis and the surge in health threats across all species.

"At the foundation of all these crises is the phenomenon of climate change; everything is interconnected," he noted, pointing to the alarming rise in antimicrobial resistance and disruptions to global food systems.

Sharing the Ghanaian experience, the President highlighted how environmental degradation directly impacts livelihoods and health. He cited the devastating effects of pests on smallholder cocoa farmers and the ecological damage caused by illegal mining (galamsey), which pollutes water bodies and threatens biodiversity.

He further called for decisive international action against plastic pollution, describing it as a "poison" to the world's ecosystems.

A central theme of the President's address was the unacceptable gap in resources between wealthy and developing nations. He argued that global health security is only as strong as its weakest link.

"The countries that are most at risk have the least resources to cope. This must change," President Mahama stated, demanding fair access to financing, technology, and data.

He reminded the summit that Africa's prosperity is essential to global stability: "A healthy and thriving Africa is no threat to anyone. It will be a positive force for global progress."

President Mahama championed a "prevention-led" healthcare model, citing Ghana's success with the Ghana Medical Trust Fund and expanded primary healthcare programmes as evidence that prevention is more cost-effective than cure.

He also noted that the "One Health" concept is not new to the continent but is rooted in African traditional knowledge.

"In Africa, our lived experience leads us to accept without question that human survival, animal well-being, and environmental care form a single interconnected system," the President said.

Reflecting on the lessons of COVID-19, Mpox, and Marburg, President Mahama urged the international community to overcome fragmented systems and show the political will necessary to build a resilient future.

"The decisions we make at this summit will shape the future of global health security," he concluded. "Let us ensure that they result in tangible, measurable outcomes for our people and our planet."