President Mahama to launch ‘The Accra Reset’ at UNGA 2025 when he hosts a landmark high-level event on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly. As African Union Champion for African Financial Institutions, President John Dramani Mahama will unveil “The Accra Reset: Reimagining Global Governance for Health and Development,” a framework intended to overhaul global cooperation in a turbulent, post-SDG era.
A Gathering of Global Leaders
The Accra Reset event, announced by Minister of Government Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu, will draw Heads of State, multilateral institution chiefs, philanthropists, business innovators and civil society figures from Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and beyond. The aim is to foster a shared commitment to transforming existing governance mechanisms so they can deliver tangible results on health, inequality and resilience.
Launching the Global Presidential Council
At the heart of The Accra Reset lies the newly established Global Presidential Council. This council will include leaders from four continents who will provide political leadership and advocacy for the initiative. Their first task will be to appoint a High-Level Advisory Panel made up of experts in health, finance, technology and sustainable development. Together, these bodies will ensure that The Accra Reset is both politically supported and intellectually rigorous.
From MDGs to SDGs to the Need for Reset
The Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals spurred significant progress in reducing extreme poverty, improving education and expanding healthcare access. Yet the UN’s 2023 SDG review found that fewer than half of the 169 targets are on track. Global health remains vulnerable to shocks, inequality persists and many countries lack fiscal buffers to manage crises. With 2030 fast approaching, another list of development goals is insufficient. A fundamental re-engineering of the governance logic is required.
Building on African Health Sovereignty
The Accra Reset builds on momentum from the August 2025 Africa Health Sovereignty Summit in Accra. That gathering underscored the need for African nations to lead on health policy, pharmaceutical production and emergency response mechanisms. The new initiative adopts health as its first sectoral focus, using it as a proving ground for resilient coalitions and agile platforms that can operate effectively amid overlapping global emergencies.
A New Operating Logic
Traditional multilateral agencies often work in silos with rigid bureaucratic procedures. The Accra Reset proposes a different model: syndicates and platforms that cut across regions and sectors. Member states and partners will commit to shared metrics, pooled financing vehicles and rapid-response protocols. This approach is designed to ensure accountability and speed when crises arise, rather than relying on ad hoc appeals or bilateral aid that can be slow or conditional.
Concrete Steps in Health and Beyond
In the health domain, The Accra Reset will pilot:
- Pooled Procurement Networks
Regional bulk purchasing of vaccines, diagnostics and essential medicines to lower costs and guarantee supplies. - Shared Manufacturing Hubs
Centres of excellence in pharmaceuticals and medical devices distributed across key regions, reducing dependence on distant suppliers. - Crisis Response Task Forces
Rapid-deployment teams of experts ready to assist countries facing disease outbreaks or disaster-related health emergencies.
Once proven in health, this operating logic will extend to areas such as climate adaptation, digital connectivity and sustainable finance.
Political and Private-Sector Buy-In
President Mahama will call on fellow Heads of State to sign a joint communiqué endorsing The Accra Reset. He will also invite philanthropic foundations and private-sector innovators to pledge technical support, funding or pilots of digital governance tools. Civil society groups will be encouraged to monitor progress and advocate for transparency.
Quotes from the Government Statement
In the statement, Minister Kwakye Ofosu noted, “The Accra Reset marks a turning point in how the world addresses shared challenges. It moves us from promise-making to a governance model built on delivery, partnership and resilience.” President Mahama added, “We cannot afford development-as-usual. Our citizens demand a system that acts swiftly and inclusively. The Accra Reset sets that new course.”
Implications for Global Governance
If successful, The Accra Reset could reshape how UN agencies, regional bodies and national governments collaborate. It may inform UN reform discussions, the financing of global public goods and the role of emerging economies in setting agendas. By placing health at the centre, the initiative underscores its cross-cutting relevance to economic growth, social stability and human security.
Looking Ahead
Following the launch in New York, the Global Presidential Council will convene its first summit in Accra early in 2026. The High-Level Advisory Panel will publish a detailed roadmap with milestones for each pilot area. Governments and partners will begin implementing agreed actions, with annual reviews at subsequent UNGA sessions.
The Accra Reset represents a bold vision to match the scale of today’s challenges. Under President Mahama’s stewardship, it seeks to forge a new paradigm of cooperative action that delivers measurable benefits for all.
