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The Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, Dr Kingsley Agyemang, has called on African parliamentarians to enact and enforce laws that confront health injustice across the continent. Delivering the keynote address at the 5th Federation of African Law Students (FALAS) Continental Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the theme “Legislating for Health Justice: Advancing Universal Health Coverage in the Pan-African Context,” Dr Agyemang emphasized that the journey toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) must be anchored in laws that guarantee equality, accountability and access for every citizen. He warned that the future of public health in Africa depends not only on the construction of hospitals but also on the strength of the laws that determine who can access them. The Abuakwa South legislator shared the story of a young mother who walked more than six kilometres to reach the nearest health centre, only to discover that the nurse on duty had no delivery kit to assist her. According to Dr. Agyemang, the woman wrapped her newborn in her own scarf and whispered that she was simply grateful her baby had survived. “For me, that moment was a painful reminder that, in many parts of Africa, giving life remains a dangerous journey,” he recounted. “That encounter taught me that legislation must not only allocate funds; it must protect dignity. When a mother walks that far to give life, society must walk even further to make that life thrive.” He described the story as a mirror reflecting the harsh realities faced by many African families—where people live far from health centres, struggle without reliable medical supplies, and endure the consequences of inadequate policies. “No woman should risk her life or her baby’s life because of a missing delivery kit,” he declared, his voice echoing through the hall of the African Union Headquarters. “Health justice must not remain a dream; it must become a legislative duty.” Dr Agyemang urged lawmakers across the continent to move beyond rhetoric and commit to comprehensive legal reforms that make healthcare equitable, accessible, and truly universal. He argued that it is not enough to build hospitals and announce reforms; rather, nations must establish systems that ensure no patient is turned away because of poverty, geography, or governance failures. “Health injustice anywhere in Africa threatens the dignity of all Africans,” he said, calling for a continental approach that harmonizes national health laws and aligns them with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Africa Health Strategy. Dr Agyemang further stressed that African parliaments must strengthen their oversight functions to ensure that health budgets and policies produce measurable impact. “Oversight is the conscience of democracy — the means by which citizens’ voices are amplified and governments are held accountable,” he said. “Laws without monitoring are empty promises. When parliaments demand transparency and insist that budgets reflect real human needs, justice moves from paper to people.” He also underscored the importance of sustainable health financing and capacity building, insisting that every African government should dedicate a fixed portion of its annual budget to health infrastructure, preventive medicine, and community health initiatives. Dr Kingsley Agyemang to deliver keynote at FALAS Continental Conference However, Dr Agyemang cautioned that financing alone is not enough trained personnel must be available to deliver services, particularly in rural and underserved regions. “The distance between a rural clinic and an urban hospital can mean the difference between life and death,” he observed. “Equity begins when we close that gap.” Dr Agyemang further urged African parliaments to collaborate beyond national borders by creating inter-parliamentary platforms to share legislative tools, data, and best practices. Such cooperation, he said, would accelerate the continent’s progress toward universal health access and reduce duplication of effort. “When nations share knowledge and innovation, no community is left behind,” he remarked. Dr Agyemang commended the African Union for promoting health integration through initiatives such as the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the African Medicines Agency. He urged member states to adopt shared standards to ensure access to safe and affordable healthcare across the continent. Watch as Ghanaians share bold ideas to end galamsey
