President John Dramani Mahama will co-chair the high-level segment of the 2026 One Health Summit in Lyon alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, and will also share the chair at a dedicated session on Global Health Architecture with President Macron and World Health Organisation Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The announcement was made in a press statement signed by the Minister of state in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, confirming that President Mahama will travel to France on Monday, April 6, at the invitation of President Macron.
At the Global Health Architecture session, participants will discuss reforms to global health initiatives and endorse a Political Declaration on strengthening international health cooperation, a document President Mahama will help shape from the chair.
He will then deliver a second keynote address at the opening of the heads of state high-level segment, where he will set out Ghana’s commitments and views on global health security.
The One Health Summit brings together world leaders, health ministers and global health experts to address pressing issues around global health systems, sustainable food production and joint strategies for tackling health challenges facing the international community.
President Mahama’s role at the summit extends beyond the formal programme.
He will also be received by President of the French Senate, His Excellency Gérard Larcher, before travelling to the Élysée Palace on Wednesday, April 8, for bilateral talks with President Macron covering health, education, trade, investment and regional security.
The visit comes days after the Accra Reset announced the establishment of an 18-member high-level panel tasked with producing concrete proposals to reform a global health order it said had treated governments of the Global South as passive takers.
President Mahama will return to Accra shortly after the Élysée Palace meeting.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
