Ghana’s Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akando, has called on African countries to prioritise the production and consumption of medicines manufactured on the continent.

He said recent global health crises had exposed Africa’s overdependence on external sources for essential medicines and medical supplies, describing the situation as a major concern for a continent with the capacity to develop its own pharmaceutical industry.

Mr Akando noted that Africa’s inability to fully rely on locally manufactured medicines and treatments during health emergencies was alarming and required urgent action from member states.

"We must strengthen Africa's health sovereignty. Our continent continues to consume medicines, vaccines, and health technology that are overwhelmingly produced elsewhere. The lessons from recent global crises remain fresh in our minds; the next emergency must never again find Africa waiting at the back of the queue," he said while addressing the ongoing Africa Union Extraordinary Health Summit in Accra on July 21.

He urged African governments to demonstrate stronger commitment towards promoting local pharmaceutical production, saying the move would enhance health security and reduce the continent’s vulnerability to global supply chain disruptions.

"Investing in local manufacturing, regulatory harmonisation, and it means a stronger regional market, it means food procurement and resilient supply chains and above all, it means building the confidence to produce what our people need more here in our continent," he added.

He stressed that investing in African-made medicines would not only strengthen healthcare systems but also support economic growth and self-reliance across the continent.

The summit brings together Heads of State and Health Ministers to advance Universal Health Coverage and map strategies to end AIDS and tuberculosis by 2030. Key leaders attending include AU Commission leadership and Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is leading a side event focused on maternal, newborn, and child survival.

The event aims to adopt a fully costed continental roadmap for improving health outcomes and strengthening health systems across Africa