The Accra Reset initiative has urged African countries to prioritize domestic financing for healthcare as international aid continues to decline. This call was made during a high-level event in New York, held on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly. The initiative presented a blueprint aimed at reforming global health financing and governance, emphasizing the need for countries to take greater control over their health priorities and resources.
The Accra Reset High-Level Panel on Reform of the Global Health Architecture and Governance released a report titled "A Sovereign Future for Health." The report recommends that domestic resources become the foundation of national health financing, while external funding supports countries in building stronger health systems and local capacity. This approach aims to reduce dependence on foreign donors and promote self-sufficiency in healthcare.
Ghanaian President John Mahama addressed the gathering, emphasizing the need for African countries to move beyond reliance on foreign donors for essential health products and services. He stated that the Accra Reset is not advocating for isolationism but rather a mature, equal partnership where countries have greater control over their health priorities and resources. Mahama linked greater control over health systems with stronger accountability by national governments.
The report proposes several key strategies, including stronger regional institutions, coordinated procurement, investment in pharmaceutical manufacturing, and technology transfer. It also suggests independent mechanisms to track whether governments and development partners deliver on their commitments. Additionally, the initiative recommends a "one-stop" country health compact that would bring priorities, budgets, and implementation together.
The Accra Reset initiative was launched in New York during the 80th UN General Assembly in September 2025, following a health sovereignty summit convened by Mahama in Accra. The latest meeting also launched the Global Reset Dialogues, a platform for discussions between the Global South and Global North on areas including migration, critical minerals, and trade finance.
The initiative's recommendations include a regional division of labor in health manufacturing, with greater technology transfer and investment to reduce dependence on imported medicines and other essential health products. The Accra Reset said nearly seven in 10 maternal deaths globally occur in sub-Saharan Africa, and its Mother Africa initiative, championed by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, was unveiled alongside the Business United for Mothers, Babies and Youth (BUMBY) campaign.
The Accra Reset's broader objective is to move from development commitments to stronger national and regional institutions, financing mechanisms, and partnerships capable of delivering measurable results. The event formed part of the high-level activities surrounding the 81st UN General Assembly, whose 2026 theme is "Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All."
Key points
- The Accra Reset initiative urges African countries to prioritize domestic financing for healthcare as international aid declines.
- The initiative proposes a "one-stop" country health compact to bring priorities, budgets, and implementation together.
- The Accra Reset aims to promote self-sufficiency in healthcare and reduce dependence on foreign donors.
