Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has defended his government's decision to reject a new health compact proposed by the United States. The compact was meant to replace funding previously provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York on September 25, 2026, President Mahama described the conditions in the compact as humiliating and an affront to Ghana's sovereignty.
According to President Mahama, the Ministry of Health studied the compact and presented a Cabinet Information Paper to Cabinet, where several provisions were flagged. The proposed compact required Ghana to provide the US with its pathogen profile and medical records, which the President found unacceptable. He questioned the rationale behind such demands, stating that no country should be required to surrender its medical records to another nation.
The compact also stipulated that Ghana commit a set amount of money as counterpart funding and exempted medications and medical products brought into the country under the programme from inspection by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA). President Mahama deemed these conditions "humiliating" and stated that Cabinet rejected the compact in record time. The Minister of Health was subsequently directed to inform the US Ambassador that Ghana would manage on its own.
The rejection of the compact was triggered by the abrupt withdrawal of US aid support, which had created a significant gap in the education and health sectors. An amount of $174 million programmed into the national budget was withdrawn, resulting in a $74 million shortfall in the health sector annually. This shortfall affected critical areas, including medical research, HIV and AIDS testing laboratories, and the administration of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) programme.
The withdrawal of US aid support led to the genesis of the Accra Reset initiative, aimed at breaking dependencies and achieving health sovereignty by producing more medicines and vaccines on the continent. President Mahama recalled the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Africa was last in the queue to receive vaccines due to major vaccine producers being in the West. He emphasized the need for the continent to build capacity to produce its own medicines and vaccines ahead of future pandemics.
The Accra Reset initiative aims to improve health outcomes and ensure that health remains a central pillar of Africa's development. President Mahama stated that the objective is to reduce Africa's reliance on external aid and promote self-sufficiency in the health sector. By producing more medicines and vaccines locally, Africa can mitigate the impact of future pandemics and ensure that its healthcare needs are met.
In conclusion, President Mahama reiterated Ghana's commitment to managing its health sector without external interference. He emphasized that the country's sovereignty and dignity must be respected in any international partnership. The rejection of the US health compact and the launch of the Accra Reset initiative demonstrate Ghana's determination to take charge of its health sector and promote health sovereignty on the continent.
Key points
- Ghana rejected the US health compact due to humiliating conditions and sovereignty concerns.
- The Accra Reset initiative aims to promote health sovereignty in Africa by producing more medicines and vaccines locally.
- The withdrawal of US aid support led to a significant gap in Ghana's health sector, prompting the government to seek alternative solutions.
