President John Dramani Mahama has arrived in Lyon to participate in the One Health Summit, where he is expected to deliver a keynote address and hold bilateral talks with Emmanuel Macron.
The visit marks President Mahama’s second trip to Paris since assuming office for his second term, signaling renewed momentum in Ghana-France relations, this time with a strategic focus on global health cooperation. The Ghanaian leader is attending the summit also as the convenor of the Accra Reset Initiative, which places health security at the centre of broader global governance reforms.
President Mahama is expected to deliver a keynote address on strengthening global health architecture at the high-level meeting, which will be co-chaired by President Macron and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization. The summit will bring together heads of state, global health leaders and policymakers to deliberate on reforms aimed at strengthening international health systems and preparedness.
The high-level discussions are expected to culminate in the endorsement of a Political Declaration on strengthening international health cooperation, amid growing global concern over pandemic preparedness and health security.
France’s Global Health Strategy (2023–2027) prioritizes multilateral cooperation, the “One Health” approach and the strengthening of health systems, particularly across Africa, in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3. The strategy also emphasizes funding major global health partnerships, supporting WHO initiatives and promoting coordinated responses to emerging health threats.
President Mahama will also deliver a keynote address at the opening of the high-level segment for Heads of State and Government, where he is expected to outline Ghana’s commitments and perspectives on global health security and multilateral cooperation.
On Wednesday, April 8, 2026, President Mahama will hold bilateral talks with President Macron at the Élysée Palace, where both leaders are expected to explore areas of mutual interest, including health cooperation, economic partnership and regional security.
The meeting follows earlier bilateral engagements between the two leaders in October 2025, when President Mahama held extensive talks with President Macron on the sidelines of the Paris Peace Forum 2025. Discussions at the time focused on security cooperation, economic development and regional stability.
President Mahama’s participation in the One Health Summit is expected to further consolidate Ghana-France relations while positioning Ghana as a key voice in shaping the future of global health governance.
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