President John Dramani Mahama has shared a deeply personal story about how he lost one of his brothers to the effects of polio.

Speaking at the Global Summit on Health and Prosperity through Immunisation, co-hosted by the European Union, the Gates Foundation, and the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) in Brussels, Belgium, on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, the president reflected on the devastating impact the disease had on his family.

While commending Gavi’s efforts to ensure that people in poor regions around the world have access to vaccines against polio and other deadly diseases, President Mahama revealed that one of his younger brothers was crippled by polio during their childhood, at a time when vaccines were scarce.

He explained that the stigma and emotional burden of living with a disability deeply affected his brother, ultimately driving him into alcoholism, which led to his death.

“For me, the issue of vaccines is deeply personal. When I was growing up, one of my younger brothers was affected by polio and was crippled. He lived with the stigma of his disability for many years.

“Eventually, he was driven into depression and became an alcoholic. He died from alcohol poisoning. I had to take care of the two children he left behind. So, I truly understand the value of life-saving vaccines,” President Mahama said.

He added, “The rest of us who grew up healthy and are here today were the lucky ones. We grew up in a time when access to vaccines was virtually non-existent in our part of Africa.”

Watch a video of President Mahama's remarks below: