Accra: On April 28, 2026, it was reported that Ghana had rejected a proposed bilateral health deal with the United States, citing 'unhealthy concerns' about the terms.
According to Ghana Web, a highly placed source with knowledge of the matter confirmed that Ghana declined the deal primarily because of the conditions attached to it.
The source indicated that the government could not agree to share information as sensitive as the health data of its citizens with a foreign nation, raising concerns about privacy and long-term control. The proposed agreement required Ghana to share health records with the United States for a period of 25 years, although the aid programme itself was designed to last only five years, prompting concerns about the long-term implications.
Moreover, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reportedly included provisions allowing drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to enter the Ghanaian market without undergoing the country's standard approval processes. This aspect of the agreement was viewed as potentially undermining the authority and oversight of the Ghana Food and Drugs Authority.
Financially, while the United States pledged $109 million over five years, the commitment was contingent upon the availability of funds and approval by Congress. Ghana was expected to contribute $70 million in counterpart funding over the same period, with this obligation being binding.
Additionally, the agreement was said to grant the United States broad discretion over the use of the shared data, including its availability to American pharmaceutical companies for research and commercial purposes. In November 2025, the U.S. charg© d'affaires reportedly presented Ghana's Ministry of Health with a unilaterally drafted MoU, requesting it be signed within one week.
Despite the rejection of this deal, the United States had already disbursed approximately $219 million in foreign assistance to Ghana in 2024, with $96 million allocated to health programmes, according to official foreign aid data. The details surrounding the rejected deal suggest that Ghana's decision was primarily influenced by concerns related to data protection, regulatory authority, financial commitments, and the overall structure of the agreement.
Source: Ghana Web