The Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said that in 2023, Africa received $74 billion in aid but lost $90 billion to illicit financial flows and $55 billion to corporate tax exemptions.
The losses amount to $145 billion in illicit financial flows as tax exemptions are considered illicit financial flows.
Speaking at the African Health Sovereignty Summit in Accra, Dr Ghebreyesu said Africa needs fair terms of engagement, not charity, as declining health aid threatens systems across the continent, and warned that health aid was projected to fall by up to 40 per cent this year compared to two years ago.
He described the situation as “the most severe disruptions to health systems since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic,” adding, “this is not a practical shift. It’s a cliff edge.”
Dr Ghebreyesus said life-saving medicines were stranded in warehouses, health workers were losing jobs, clinics were closing, and millions were missing care.
He noted that the crisis presented an opportunity for African nations to shed aid dependency and embrace sovereignty, self-reliance, and solidarity.
Commending Ghana’s leadership, Dr Ghebreyesus said, “Ghana is leading by example, thanks to President John Dramani Mahama for delivering on his commitment to free primary healthcare for all, this is what sovereignty looks like.”
He stressed that political commitment from the highest level is essential for transitioning from aid dependency.
Dr Ghebreyesus noted that in 2023, Africa received $74 billion in aid but lost $90 billion to illicit financial flows and $55 billion to corporate tax exemptions.
He proposed a 50 per cent tax price increase on harmful products such as tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks, estimating it could generate $3.7 trillion globally within five years and save millions of lives.
The Director-General said WHO was advocating for reform through global platforms, calling for a more democratic, fair, and accountable health architecture.
“Health is not a cost to be contained but an investment to be nurtured in people, in stability, and in prosperity,” he stated.
Dr Ghebreyesus urged governments to invest in their populations, creditors to offer fair lending terms, and donors to strengthen national health systems rather than bypass them.
“We seek a new international order in which health and development are global rights, not privileges for the few,” he concluded.
Source: GNA
Related Posts
