80th UN General Assembly: Mahama meets Heads of State and Government of Africa CDC

Ahead of the opening of the General Debates of the 80th UN General Assembly on Tuesday, President John Dramani Mahama on Monday joined his colleagues in a meeting of heads of state and government of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The meeting was under the theme: Securing Africa’s Health Sovereignty: Political Leadership for Sustainable Health Financing, Local Manufacturing, and Pandemic Preparedness.

Ghana’s President is expected on Tuesday at 8.00 pm (Ghana Time) to host a side event on the Accra Reset: Reimaging Global Governance for Health and Development.

According to him, “Health is not a cost. It is the engine of productivity and the foundation of sovereignty.”

Meanwhile, First Lady Mrs Lordina Dramani Mahama has appealed for concerted global action to safeguard the future of children, calling for a peaceful world with opportunities for their growth and well-being.

Her impassioned plea was at a special annual prayer session for children at the Tillman Chapel Church Centre in New York, on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Mrs Mahama highlighted the uncertainties faced by children today, exacerbated by scaled-back funding for essential services, growing mistrust in institutions, and an erosion of hope.

She noted that while the challenges, especially for the vulnerable, are immense, they can be overcome through collective prayer and an unwavering commitment to confront the rapidly changing global order.

“We gather here from different nations and cultures, but we are united by our shared faith,” she stated, adding that, through prayer and decisive leadership, “we can create a world where every child is protected and empowered to achieve their full potential.”

Mrs Mahama painted a stark picture of the thousands of children caught in armed conflicts and humanitarian crises, particularly in Africa, where their childhoods are brutally stolen.

“These are precious lives destroyed by circumstances beyond their control,” she lamented. “When nations fail to focus on policies that safeguard the home, strengthen communities, and nurture the youth, it is our children who suffer the most. They are the ones who lose parents, siblings, homes, dreams, and carry emotional scars that can last forever.”

The First Lady mentioned her personal commitment to these ideals through the work of the Lordina Foundation, her non-governmental organisation dedicated to the welfare of underprivileged children and orphans in Ghana.

Mrs Mahama expressed hope that with broader support, such philanthropic efforts across the globe could profoundly impact the lives of countless children.

In her prayer for the world’s children, the First Lady said: “Heavenly Father, I lift the needy and orphaned children in Ghana and across the world into your loving care. I ask that you surround them with protection, comfort, and hope for a brighter future. Provide for their daily needs, including food, shelter, clothing, and education. Bless those who dedicate their time and resources to care for them. May these children grow in wisdom, strength, and joy, knowing that you love them. Guide their paths with opportunities, surround them with kindness, and let their lives shine as testimonies of your unfailing grace and provision. Amen.”