Accra will become the center of Africa’s health diplomacy as the African Union convenes its first-ever Extraordinary Summit dedicated solely to public health, bringing together heads of state to chart a continent-wide path toward ending AIDS and tuberculosis by 2030.
The two-day Extraordinary Session of the AU Assembly, running July 21–22, will be held under the theme “Advancing Justice, Equity and Universal Health Coverage: Ending AIDS, TB, improving maternal health, addressing endemic non-communicable and neglected tropical diseases and conditions in Africa.”
Beyond the two epidemics named in the theme, discussions will also cover preventable maternal deaths, non-communicable diseases, and broader efforts to strengthen fragile health systems across the continent.
The summit traces back to a decision taken at the AU’s 38th Ordinary Session in February 2025, when member states agreed to convene a dedicated meeting on public health.
President John Dramani Mahama declares #Ghana ready to welcome African Heads of State, Ministers of Health, media, and development partners to Accra this week for the AU Extraordinary Summit on Health.
“Africa’s future continues to spell justice, equity, and universal health… pic.twitter.com/ZHBYSToiPK
— African Union (@_AfricanUnion) July 20, 2026
It builds on a fully costed AU Roadmap to 2030, a continental plan designed to sustain the fight against AIDS, reinforce health systems, and improve health security in the face of shrinking donor funding and rising disease burdens.
Ministers, AU organs, regional economic communities, health organizations, development partners, civil society groups, youth representatives, the private sector, and the media are all expected in Accra, alongside plenary sessions, high-level dialogues, panel discussions, workshops, and partner exhibitions.
Speaking ahead of the summit, African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf urged all stakeholders to rally behind the effort.
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“I call upon member-states, partners, the private sector, civil society, health professionals and all Africans to join us in Accra as we forge a new continental compact for healthier communities and a more prosperous Africa,” he said, adding, “Together we can build the Africa we want; healthy, resilient and prepared for the future.”
Organizers say the summit is expected to produce a formal declaration on implementing the AU Roadmap to 2030, along with a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework to track progress.
Leaders are also set to tackle thornier structural issues: how to sustainably finance health systems as external aid tightens, how to expand local pharmaceutical manufacturing to reduce reliance on imported medicines, and how to strengthen the governance of National Public Health Institutes and build up the health workforce.
