Ghana has terminated negotiations for a multi-year aid agreement with the United States after Washington reportedly demanded access to the personal data of Ghanaian citizens, according to a source close to the West African government.
The proposed deal, valued at about $109 million over five years, was part of a broader US initiative under its “America First Global Health Strategy,” which has seen Washington restructure its foreign health assistance following the dismantling of the long-running USAID programme under the administration of US President Donald Trump.
A source told AFP that the negotiations broke down after Ghana pushed back against the data access requirement, leading to what was described as a “hostile” response from the US negotiating team and increased pressure on Accra.
“The deal is dead,” the source said, adding that Ghana’s delegation included health officials, indicating the agreement was likely focused on public health support.
The funding was expected to support programmes targeting diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, according to a US State Department spokesperson, who declined to disclose details of the negotiations.
While Ghana has not officially confirmed the breakdown, the Health Ministry has yet to respond to requests for comment.
The collapsed talks come amid a wave of similar bilateral agreements across Africa, with at least 32 deals reportedly signed under the US health strategy, totalling about $20.6 billion. Countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Lesotho, and Eswatini have participated in the programme.
However, not all negotiations have proceeded smoothly. Zimbabwe previously rejected a similar proposal in February, citing concerns over national autonomy, while Zambia followed suit in March. In Kenya, a related agreement was temporarily suspended by a court over data-sharing concerns shortly after being signed.
The Ghana-US relationship has seen mixed developments in recent months. In September, Ghana agreed to receive deported West African nationals from the United States, while Washington eased visa restrictions and reduced tariffs on Ghanaian exports, including cocoa and agricultural goods.
Ghana, one of the world’s largest cocoa producers, relies heavily on export earnings to support its economy and stabilise its currency.
Despite the breakdown in talks, the US State Department said both countries remain open to strengthening bilateral cooperation in other areas.
