The demand from the US that Ghana shares sensitive health data has prompted the African country to reject a proposed health assistance agreement, RT has reported, quoting sources familiar with the matter.
Ghana’s decision is another setback the the United States as it moves to overhaul foreign aid, following the dismantling of the US Agency for International Development last year.
US President Donald Trump’s says he is driving a new ‘America First Global Health Strategy’ that aims to reduce dependency on foreign aid and promote US health innovations globally.
Ghana’s government objected to data-sharing terms in the deal, which would have provided R1,8 billion in US health assistance over five years, Reuters has reported. In 2024, the US provided R3,7 billion rand in foreign aid in 2024, including R1,7 billion for health.
Well-placed sources say that Ghana has communicated its position to the Trump administration, but the Ghanain government has not made any comment on the matter. A spokesperson for the government and Ghana’s Foreign Ministry have yet to comment on the issue.
The US government has signed deals with several African countries already. These include: Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Uganda.
Zimbabwe in February also rejected the US pre-conditions for funding, while Kenya’s agreement with the US is under judicial review.