President John Dramani Mahama, serving as AU Champion for Financial Institutions, convened a major side event on Tuesday at the 80th UN General Assembly focused on “Accra Reset – Reimagining Global Health, Resetting Global Development.”
The event attracted global leaders, including Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who served as co-convenor, former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, World Trade Organization Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
President Mahama brought together African Health Ministers, GAVI CEO Seth Berkley, and other international development leaders to discuss reforming global health governance and development approaches. The President used his platform as AU Champion for Financial Institutions to advocate for the Accra Reset framework he launched earlier during the UN General Assembly.
The gathering provided Mahama with an opportunity to build support for his global governance reform initiative among world leaders and international organization heads. Former President Obasanjo’s role as co-convenor added continental gravitas to the President’s reform proposals.
The side event allowed Mahama to present the Accra Reset framework to decision-makers capable of implementing or supporting the proposed reforms.
The President’s convening power as AU Champion for Financial Institutions enabled him to attract high-level participation from multiple sectors.
The diverse participation spanning African leaders, international organization heads, and development finance experts indicated growing recognition of the need for new approaches to global health and development cooperation as traditional models face funding and effectiveness challenges.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
