Ghana has turned down a bilateral health agreement with the United States, according to a source familiar with the discussions, marking another challenge for President Trump administration’s efforts to reform foreign aid.
President John Dramani Mahama’s administration expressed reservations about stipulations that required the exchange of sensitive health information, the source revealed.
The same issue derailed negotiations with Zimbabwe earlier this year and led to a court halting the implementation of Kenya’s agreement while a consumer protection group pursued legal action.
Officials from Ghana’s foreign ministry and government did not respond to inquiries for comments on the matter.
The U.S. State Department stated that it does not share specifics regarding bilateral negotiations. A spokesperson remarked, “We continue to seek opportunities to enhance the bilateral partnership between our two nations.”
In September, the Trump administration unveiled a new initiative called the “America First Global Health Strategy,” which aims for developing countries to take greater responsibility in combating diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and polio, with the goal of transitioning from reliance on aid to self-sufficiency.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Agency for International Development was disbanded.
For 2024, the U.S. is set to allocate $219 million in foreign assistance to Ghana, including $96 million earmarked specifically for health initiatives, reflecting the year before anticipated reductions in foreign aid under the Trump administration.
The negotiations that began last November aimed at securing $109 million in U.S. health assistance over five years, although it remains unclear how much Ghana would have been required to contribute.
”The initial discussions were fairly standard, but as time progressed, there was increasing pressure, particularly towards the end,” the source commented. The U.S. set April 24 as a deadline for finalizing the talks, prompting Ghana to conclude it could not accept the proposed terms.
As of yesterday, the State Department had finalized 32 agreements under the “America First Global Health Strategy,” amounting to $20.6 billion in funding,$12.8 billion from the U.S. and $7.8 billion in co-investment from recipient nations.
The spokesperson indicated that more memorandums of understanding are expected to be signed soon.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong