Africa Bleeds Billions as Aid Drops: WHO Chief Calls for Health Sovereignty Now
At the Africa Health Sovereignty Summit held in Accra, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, issued a stirring call for justice not just in healthcare delivery, but in how global finance continues to disadvantage African countries.
He praised Ghana for leading by example, even as he exposed the harsh truths of how much the continent loses to the global economic system each year.
“In 2023, Africa received $74 billion in aid,” Dr. Tedros stated, “but it lost $90 billion through illicit financial flows and another $55 billion through corporate tax exemptions.” That’s a net loss of $71 billion enough to build thousands of hospitals, hire millions of health workers, and provide quality healthcare for all.
“It is unacceptable,” he said. “Africa is losing far more than it gains from aid.”
Dr. Tedros’s message was simple but profound: if Africa is to achieve health sovereignty, it must first plug the financial leaks that continue to rob it of the resources needed to fund its own development.
He used Ghana as a case in point of what is possible when political will meets action. Citing Parliament’s recent reforms to boost the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and deliver on President Mahama’s pledge of free primary healthcare for all, Dr. Tedros said, “That’s what sovereignty looks like.”
He stressed that the most effective and equitable way to fund health systems is through national budgets—not through uncertain aid. “Donor funding is declining fast. It’s not a slow shift; it’s a cliff edge,” he warned. “Medicines are expiring in warehouses, clinics are closing, health workers are being laid off. Millions are missing care.”
But he also offered solutions. One of them: introducing or increasing health taxes on harmful products like tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks. “A 50% increase in the price of these items could generate $3.7 trillion globally in five years,” he said. “Imagine what that could do for healthcare in Africa.”
Dr. Tedros urged African governments to not only prioritize public investment in health but also demand reforms to the global financial architecture that continues to disadvantage the continent. He pointed out that many donor programs bypass national systems entirely, making long-term planning difficult and undermining local accountability.
“We must shake off the yoke of aid dependency and embrace an era of sovereignty, self-reliance, and solidarity,” he said.
As Ghana blazes a trail with bold policy shifts and renewed investments in health, Dr. Tedros’s message echoed across the summit: sovereignty starts with financial justice and Africa must demand its due.
