Regional Launch of “Fit to Prosper”: Investing in Health for Jobs and Development in Western and Central Africa

MEDIA ADVISORY

ACCRA, April 27, 2026 - Countries in Western and Central Africa face growing pressure on their health systems as financing tightens and health needs expand due to population growth, disease outbreaks, climate shocks, and a rising dual burden of disease.

In response, the World Bank Health, Nutrition and Population strategy, Fit to Prosper: Investing in Health for Jobs and Development in Western & Central Africa-aligned with the Accra Reset, the Lusaka Agenda, and the World Bank Group's commitment to Universal Health Coverage-provides a framework to help countries prioritize and make strategic shifts within constrained fiscal space, while advancing the Africa Initiative for Medical Access and Manufacturing (AIM2030) to support local manufacturing of essential health products, strengthen health security, and create jobs.

The World Bank Group, in partnership with the Government of Ghana and the Global Financing Facility (GFF), will convene a high-level regional launch of the Strategy on Monday, May 4^th, 2026, in Accra. The launch will be presided by H.E. John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana.

Media are invited to attend and cover sessions of the meeting.

The Accra event will:

• Introduce and position the Strategy as a unifying framework for the region.
• Demonstrate its potential to improve health outcomes while supporting job creation, productivity, health security, and domestic resource mobilization.
• Foster a shared understanding of how countries can advance health priorities in the context of tightening fiscal space; and
• Strengthen collaboration and harmonized financing to support health, nutrition, and resilience across Western and Central Africa.

WHO: H.E. John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana and members of the Government of the Republic of Ghana, Ministers and delegations from Western and Central African countries, World Bank Group senior officials, leaders of regional and international organizations, private sector representatives, civil society leaders and other stakeholders

WHEN: Monday, May 4^th, 2026

TIME: 9:00am, Accra, Ghana time

VENUE: Movenpick Hotel, Ridge, Pmb Ct 343, Independence Avenue, Accra

HIGHLIGHTS OF INTEREST FOR THE MEDIA: Media are cordially invited to the launch event.

LIVE BROADCAST: Media outlets based outside Ghana will be able to follow the conversation via this platform: https://www.worldbank.org/en/events/2026/03/22/making-health-work-for-western-and-central-africa

RSVP: To obtain accreditation, please confirm your participation by Thursday, April 30 by e-mail to Kennedy Fosu at [email protected]