President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, announced that Ghana has suffered a financial setback of approximately $78 million following the United States’ decision to halt aid support to several African nations.
Speaking at the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva today, President Mahama emphasized that this development has significantly impacted Ghana’s healthcare system and its overall development goals.
“Since 2025, health financing from both bilateral and multilateral partners has markedly decreased. Ghana has lost $78 million in health funding due to the cessation of US aid programs,” he stated during his keynote address.
He elaborated that the lost funds were crucial for various health initiatives, including malaria control, maternal and child health, nutrition, and HIV/AIDS programs, which encompassed testing and the distribution of antiretroviral medications.
The President attended the global health summit to advocate for enhanced health sovereignty for nations in the Global South.
He expressed alarm over the continuous decline in international health support since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Global health assistance has dropped by roughly 40 percent since the pandemic began, with Ghana being one of the countries severely affected by this funding reduction,” he remarked.
President Mahama pointed out that six years after the last global pandemic, the world’s health infrastructure is undergoing rapid changes.
Humanitarian aid overall has reportedly decreased by 40 percent, with significant cuts to overseas development assistance from some of the largest Western economies.
He also noted that the World Health Organization (WHO) has felt the impact of diminished US support.
“The WHO’s budget has been drastically reduced due to the withdrawal of US assistance, leading to program cutbacks and staff layoffs,” he said.
In light of these challenges, President Mahama underscored the importance for African nations to bolster their domestic healthcare systems and lessen their dependence on foreign aid to ensure effective public health delivery.
The 79th World Health Assembly convenes global leaders, policymakers, and health experts to discuss urgent global health issues and sustainable financing for healthcare initiatives.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong