In April 2026, global health leaders, innovators, and industry pioneers will gather in Accra for one of the most dynamic international convenings in the life sciences ecosystem: the 4th Global Conversations & Connections (GCC) Summit and Ghana Experience, hosted by OneWe Reach.
Under the theme “From Exclusion to Essential: Co-Creating the Future of Global Health with Africa,” the summit will feature thought-provoking conversations with leaders who are shaping the future of healthcare innovation, research, and policy.
Below are a few of the voices helping drive that conversation. Click here to view the full speaker roster.
Fafa Addo-Boateng, MD, MPH
Head, Medical Affairs – Sub-Saharan Africa, Novartis
Dr. Fafa Addo-Boateng will open the summit with a powerful discussion titled “From Aid to Co-Creation: The Future of Global Health.”
For decades, global health initiatives have largely been framed around aid-based models. But the future of healthcare innovation requires something different: collaboration, shared leadership, and meaningful partnership.
Drawing on her leadership role at Novartis across Sub-Saharan Africa, Dr. Addo-Boateng will explore how pharmaceutical companies, African research institutions, and global health organizations can work together to accelerate discovery, strengthen healthcare systems, and improve patient outcomes across the continent.
Her opening session will set the tone for the entire summit: a future where Africa is not simply included in global health innovation but essential to it.
Delese Mimi Darko, PhD, MBA
Director General, African Medicines Agency
Regulatory frameworks are one of the most important drivers of global pharmaceutical innovation, and Dr. Delese Mimi Darko is helping lead that transformation across the African continent.
As Director General of the African Medicines Agency (AMA), Dr. Darko will deliver a keynote address on Regulatory Harmonization: The AMA Imperative.
Her session will explore how continental regulatory alignment can accelerate clinical research, streamline market access, and strengthen Africa’s role within the global life sciences ecosystem.
For researchers, pharmaceutical companies, and policymakers alike, this conversation offers a rare opportunity to understand the regulatory momentum shaping healthcare innovation across Africa.
Yaw Bediako, PhD
CEO, Yemaachi Biotech
Dr. Yaw Bediako is widely recognized as one of the most influential voices in African biotechnology and genomic research.
In his session, “Beyond Inclusion: African Genomes in Research as a Scientific and Commercial Imperative,” Dr. Bediako will explore how Africa’s extraordinary genetic diversity (greater than that of the rest of the world combined) represents one of the most important opportunities in global drug discovery.
For decades, the lack of African genomic data has limited the development of therapies optimized for diverse populations. Through African-led research initiatives, that gap is beginning to close.
As founder of Yemaachi Biotech, Dr. Bediako is helping position Africa not simply as a participant in biomedical research, but as a driver of scientific discovery that can benefit patients worldwide.
Leaders Driving the Investment Conversation
Building a sustainable life sciences ecosystem requires more than scientific talent; it requires investment, infrastructure, and strategic collaboration.
The summit’s plenary session “The Investment Imperative: Architecting a Bankable Research Economy in Africa” will bring together several influential leaders working at the intersection of research, industry, and capital.
Featured participants include:
- John Gyapong – Secretary-General, African Research Universities Alliance
- Yaw Attua-Afari – Co-Founder & Chief Financial Officer / Chief Business Officer, Yemaachi Biotech
- Derrick Akpalụ – Chief Executive Officer, Revna Biosciences
Together, these leaders will explore how Africa’s scientific potential can move beyond traditional grant-based models toward a sustainable research economy fueled by foreign direct investment, public-private partnerships, and African-led innovation.
Their discussion will examine what it takes to unlock the capital and infrastructure needed to support the next generation of life sciences breakthroughs.
Join the Conversation in Ghana
If you are passionate about the future of healthcare, research, and innovation, GCC 2026 offers a rare opportunity to learn, connect, and collaborate on a global stage.
📍 Accra, Ghana
📅 April 16–17, 2026
🌍 Pre-Summit Industry Visits: April 14–15
🌍 Post-Summit Cultural Experiences: April 18–19
Registration is now open for this once-a-year global experience. Secure your place in the conversation shaping the future of global health.
