President John Dramani Mahama has received praise from the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, following his remarks at the opening of the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA79), where he made a strong case for increased political commitment and sustainable investment in global health systems.
In a message shared in a social media post on Tuesday May 19,2026, the WHO chief highlighted President Mahama’s address as a “powerful call for political leadership and investment in health,” stressing that the future of global healthcare should be built on partnership and national agency rather than dependency on aid.
Quoting a popular African proverb, Mahama reportedly reminded delegates that “one who plants a tree, does not always sit in its shade,” underscoring the importance of long-term vision and sacrifice in building resilient health systems.
He further urged world leaders to reframe success in healthcare, stating that progress should not be measured by the number of conferences held, but by real-life outcomes—such as whether a child in the Global South has the same chance of survival as one in the Global North.
The remarks, delivered at the opening of World Health Assembly 79th Session organised by the World Health Organization, were described by Tedros as a demonstration of leadership “walking the talk” on the vision of #HealthForAll.
He concluded by expressing gratitude to President Mahama for joining global health leaders at the Assembly, adding that his message reinforces the need for a “new order” in global health—one driven by collaboration, dignity, and shared responsibility rather than aid dependency.
The WHO Director-General ended his message with a personal note of solidarity, calling Mahama “my brother,” and reaffirming continued collaboration toward achieving universal health coverage globally.
CREDIT: Mavis Fantevi
