President Mahama in Brussels to Champion Gavi Vaccine Funding

Jun 25, 2025 - 14:30

Brussels, Belgium - 25 June, 2025 - Ghana's President, John Dramani Mahama, has arrived in Brussels to lead efforts in replenishing funding for the GAVI Alliance, a global initiative aimed at increasing access to vaccines in low-income countries.

The visit, announced on June 25, 2025 in a statement signed by the Minister of Givernment Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, underscores President Mahama's long-standing commitment to equitable vaccine access and global health security.

President Mahama is participating in the Global Summit on Health and Prosperity through Immunisation, a high-level event co-hosted by the European Union, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Vaccine Alliance. The summit's primary objective is to mobilize support for Gavi's 2026-2030 strategy, which aims to immunize 500 million additional children, prevent over 8 million deaths, and protect against up to 150 potential disease outbreaks. The initiative is expected to deliver more than $100 billion in global economic benefits.

According to President Mahama, "As we've seen in Ghana and across Africa, vaccines save lives and protect futures. A fully funded Gavi is not just a health imperative—it is an economic and moral one." His involvement in vaccine advocacy dates back to 2013, when he actively supported Gavi's mission to expand access to life-saving immunization for children worldwide.

The GAVI Alliance has achieved significant milestones since its establishment in 2000, including delivering vaccines to over 1 billion children, preventing over 18.8 million deaths, and generating more than $250 billion in economic gains for low-income countries.

During his visit, President Mahama is expected to meet with global leaders, including the President of the EU Council of Ministers and philanthropist Bill Gates, to further galvanize support for the initiative. The Brussels summit is seen as a pivotal moment to rally both traditional donors and emerging partners, reinforcing the effectiveness of Gavi's collaborative model, which brings together governments, international organizations, civil society, communities, and the private sector.

Read the statement below;