ACCRA, Ghana:
Ghana yesterday rejected an agreement aimed at strengthening its health sector with the United States, saying it discovered that the deal would require it to hand over sensitive data.
President John Dramani Mahama’s administration declined the proposal, under which it would receive financial assistance in exchange for giving the United States access to critical health data.
The same issue also stalled talks between the United States and Zimbabwe, while a Kenyan court blocked a similar agreement after a case was filed by a civil society organization.
A spokesperson for Ghana’s foreign ministry and the government did not respond to Reuters messages regarding the matter. The United States also said it does not disclose details of its commercial agreements with other countries.
“We continue to explore ways to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries,” a government spokesperson said.
In September, the U.S. administration announced a new global strategy aimed at ensuring poorer countries take responsibility for fighting HIV/AIDS, malaria, asthma, and polio within their own borders.
This was intended to reduce those countries’ dependence on U.S. aid and encourage self-reliance.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was dismantled earlier this year.
The United States had sent KSh 28.3 million in aid to Ghana, including KSh 12.4 billion for the health sector in 2024, before President Donald Trump cut foreign assistance
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