President John Dramani Mahama has arrived in Lyon, France, to a rousing welcome from members of the Ghanaian community, marking the start of a significant diplomatic mission that places Ghana at the forefront of global health discussions.
The visit, undertaken at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, coincides with the 2026 Global One Health Summit, a major international gathering focused on tackling interconnected health challenges. President Mahama’s arrival on Easter Monday sets the tone for a three-day engagement expected to influence global strategies on pandemic preparedness, food security, and environmental health.
At the heart of the summit is the “One Health” approach, which recognises the close link between human, animal, and environmental health. President Mahama will co-chair the High-Level Segment of the summit on Tuesday alongside President Macron, joining world leaders, health ministers, and global experts in shaping policy direction.
According to the Presidency, the Ghanaian leader will deliver two key keynote addresses. The first will focus on Global Health Architecture and will be co-chaired by President Macron and World Health Organisation Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The second address will outline Ghana’s commitments and strategic position on global health security.
“This summit is our moment to lead, not only in financing our systems but also in reshaping the rules that govern global health,” President Mahama said ahead of the event.
A major highlight of the summit is expected to be the endorsement of the “Accra Compact,” an initiative championed by President Mahama under the broader “Accra Reset” agenda. The proposal seeks to redefine global health governance by amplifying the needs of developing countries and strengthening Africa’s health sovereignty.
Discussions at the summit will centre on critical areas including the prevention of zoonotic diseases, strengthening sustainable food systems, and combating antimicrobial resistance issues that continue to pose serious threats to global health systems.
Following the summit in Lyon, President Mahama will travel to Paris on Wednesday, April 8, for high-level bilateral talks with President Macron at the Élysée Palace. The discussions are expected to focus on deepening Ghana-France relations in key sectors such as education, trade, investment, and regional security in West Africa.
He is also scheduled to meet with the President of the French Senate, Gérard Larcher, as part of efforts to strengthen parliamentary cooperation between the two countries.
The outcomes of the summit are expected to contribute to France’s G7 Presidency agenda later this year. For Ghana, the visit highlights its growing role and influence in global health diplomacy.
President Mahama is expected to return to Accra after concluding his engagements in Paris.
