Mahama, Macron co-chair One health Summit in Lyon, call for action in global health threats

Former Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama joined French President Emmanuel Macron as co-chair of the One Health Summit in Lyon on Tuesday, urging world leaders to move beyond rhetoric and turn commitments into concrete action.

Speaking at the high-level gathering, Mahama highlighted the growing complexity of global health threats, from emerging zoonotic diseases to antimicrobial resistance, and stressed that no single sector or nation can tackle them alone. He championed the One Health approach, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health.

“We must shift from commitment to action,” Mahama said, calling on leaders to translate summit discussions into tangible outcomes for people, communities, and the planet. He also drew on Africa’s rich heritage of traditional knowledge and sustainable practices as a vital resource in building resilient health systems.

The Lyon summit, co-chaired by Macron, underscored the urgency of cross-border cooperation, with a focus on prevention, early warning systems, and equitable access to health tools. No further announcements on specific funding or timelines were released following the session.