Ghana Rejects US Health Aid Deal …Over Data Privacy Concerns

Ghana has turned down a proposed bilateral health agreement with the United States of America after negotiations collapsed over demands for access to sensitive health data, according to a Reuters report.

The agreement was part of Washington’s broader “America First Global Health Strategy,” introduced under the Trump administration to reshape foreign aid by requiring partner countries to take on greater responsibility for funding and managing disease control programmes such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and polio.

Talks, which began in November 2025, would have seen Ghana receive about $109 million in U.S. health support over a five-year period.

However, the negotiations stalled when Ghanaian officials objected to clauses that required sharing sensitive national health data, describing the terms as unacceptable.

Reuters’ source familiar with the discussions said the talks started routinely but became increasingly pressured toward the end, with the U.S. setting an April 24 deadline to conclude the deal.

The breakdown represents a setback for Washington’s efforts to reshape global health partnerships.

Similar disagreements have arisen elsewhere: negotiations with Zimbabwe recently fell apart over comparable concerns, while a proposed deal with Kenya was temporarily halted by a court following a legal challenge.

Ghana has not issued an official statement on the matter, and both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and government representatives declined to comment.

The U.S. State Department said it does not disclose details of ongoing bilateral negotiations but reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining strong ties with Ghana. A spokesperson noted that the U.S. continues to seek ways to deepen cooperation between the two countries.

Official data reveals that, the United States provided about $219 million in assistance to Ghana in 2024, including $96 million for health programmes.

The proposed deal would have added $109 million over five years, though the extent of Ghana’s expected financial contribution remains unclear.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Agency for International Development was dismantled as part of a wider overhaul of foreign aid delivery.