President Mahama in Belgium for Global Summit on Health and Prosperity – Why It Actually Matters More Than You Think
A few years ago, I found myself sitting in a crowded waiting room at a small clinic in Accra, clutching my mom’s prescription and nervously checking the time. We had waited for hours already, and the line hadn’t budged. The air was thick, not just from the humidity, but from frustration. A nurse walked by, clearly overwhelmed. It hit me then—healthcare isn't just about doctors and pills. It's about systems, priorities, leadership. And honestly, it's about politics.
So when I heard that former President John Dramani Mahama was in Belgium for the Global Summit on Health and Prosperity, my first thought was: Good. Because someone with a voice that carries, someone who’s been in the hot seat before, is showing up where it counts.
Now, to be fair, I don’t always know what to make of these high-level global summits. You see the photos—leaders in sharp suits, posing against backdrops with logos and buzzwords. “Global Prosperity.” “Health Equity.” I mean, it sounds great. But what does it actually mean for the woman selling waakye at the junction who can’t afford her medication? Or for that young guy in Tamale who had to drop out of school because his dad’s hospital bills drained everything?
That’s why this one feels a little different.
From what I’ve gathered, the summit in Belgium isn’t just another fancy talk-fest. It’s digging into the messy intersection of health and economics—how access to healthcare impacts productivity, how healthier societies lead to stronger economies, and how countries like ours don’t need charity, but partnership.
And Mahama? Whether you love him, disagree with him, or are somewhere in between (like me, most days), you can’t deny he brings a certain calm confidence into these rooms. He’s been Ghana’s president. He’s seen how budgets are made, how tough decisions play out when there just isn’t enough to go around. He knows what it's like to fight for infrastructure in places people outside Accra have never even heard of.
Plus, he’s not just attending. He’s speaking. Representing Ghana. Sharing ideas about public-private partnerships in health, and how African nations can design systems that don’t collapse under pressure. (Remember COVID? Yeah, that taught us all a few lessons.)
What I find cool—and a bit humbling—is that someone who’s sat at Jubilee House is out there now, not just enjoying retirement, but engaging. Still thinking. Still pushing.
Sure, I know some people will roll their eyes. “Oh, another politician trying to stay relevant.” Maybe. I mean, politics is what it is. But I'd argue that if former leaders don’t stay engaged with issues like this, we’re worse off. Because we need experience in these conversations. We need people who can say, “Here’s what we tried. Here’s what failed. Here’s what might work.”
And if those conversations lead to better health access back home—even for one rural clinic, or one policy that actually sticks—then hey, that’s something.
So yeah, President Mahama in Belgium might not make headlines that light up your group chat. But maybe it should. Because in a world where health and wealth are tied tighter than ever, showing up to talk about both isn’t just politics.
It’s personal.
Makes me wonder: What would our country look like if we treated healthcare like the foundation for prosperity, not just the emergency room we visit when things fall apart?
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