By: Ashiadey Dotse
President John Dramani Mahama has stressed the need for innovative thinking to redirect resources into priority sectors, especially health, to achieve real benefits for citizens.
Speaking at the 80th UN General Assembly (UNGA) sideline event on Accra Reset: Reimagining Global Governance for Health & Development on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, President Mahama said Ghana has already adopted such strategies by reforming its health financing system.
He explained that his government uncapped statutory funds that had previously been restricted, a move that freed up GHS 3.5 billion (about $300 million) for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). According to him, this additional funding helped bridge gaps in healthcare programs, including those previously supported by USAID.
The President revealed that over 18 million Ghanaians currently hold NHIS cards, which allow them to access free healthcare services at the point of delivery. He described this as an example of how resources can be shifted from less urgent areas into critical needs like health.
President Mahama urged global leaders to adopt similar approaches by prioritizing funding for health and development, noting that leadership must focus on strategies that provide tangible improvements in people’s lives.
