By Samira Larbie, GNA
Accra, Jan 24, GNA-The United States has formally completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), citing concerns over the global body’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, governance weaknesses and alleged political influence.
A statement issued and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) said in a joint announcement on Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of State confirmed the termination of U.S. membership in the WHO.
Mr Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Health and Human Services Secretary and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the decision followed the WHO’s failure to respond promptly and independently during the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, which originated in Wuhan, China.
President Donald Trump had earlier on January 20, 2025, announced, the United States’ intention to withdraw from the organisation, triggering a year-long withdrawal process.
During that period, the U.S. halted all funding to the WHO, withdrew its personnel, and began shifting activities previously carried out through the organisation toward direct bilateral engagement with other countries and international partners.
According to the joint statement, the WHO delayed declaring COVID-19 a global public health emergency and a pandemic, a move U.S. officials say cost the world valuable time as the virus spread.
The statement further accused WHO leadership of echoing and praising China’s response to the outbreak despite evidence of early underreporting, suppression of information, and delays in confirming human-to-human transmission
It said U.S. officials also criticised the organisation for downplaying asymptomatic transmission and failing to promptly acknowledge the airborne spread of the virus.
Following the pandemic, the WHO did not implement what the U.S. described as meaningful reforms to address political influence, governance challenges, and coordination failures, leading to what Washington said was an erosion of global trust.
The statement also took issue with a WHO report on the origins of COVID-19, which rejected the possibility of laboratory creation, despite China’s refusal to provide genetic data from early cases and details on activities and biosafety conditions at Wuhan laboratories.
With the withdrawal completed, the United States said it would coordinate with the WHO only in a limited manner necessary to finalise the exit process.
The U.S. government reaffirmed its commitment to global health leadership, stating it would continue to protect public health through direct partnerships with other countries, the private sector, non-governmental organisations, and faith-based entities.
Future U.S.-led efforts, the statement said, would focus on emergency response, biosecurity coordinatio, and health innovatio while prioritising the protection of American interests and supporting global partners.
GNA
24 Jan. 2026
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong
