Gov’t reviews revised US health financing proposal after initial rejection

The government is examining a new health financing proposal from the United States after turning down an earlier version over worries that it could affect Ghana’s sovereignty, regulatory powers and national interests.

Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has made it clear that the country will not hurry into any agreement simply because it requires external support for the health sector.

Speaking in an interview on Accra-based Channel One TV, Mr. Akandoh insisted that any partnership must fully respect Ghana’s laws and be built on mutual respect rather than dependence.

“No, I’m never under any pressure. Trust us to take the best decision in the interest of the country,” he said.

“We need partnership, but we need partnership with respect and dignity. So these fragmentations and tendencies and promises of partnership – no, we will have to move from dependency to dignity, from fragmentation to solidarity,” he said.

The original proposal was carefully examined by the Ministry of Health and later presented to Cabinet, where several provisions raised concerns.

The arrangement was intended to take the place of health funding previously channelled through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

One of the main sticking points was a clause that would have exempted certain US pharmaceutical products covered by the agreement from verification or certification by Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).

The minister questioned how such a provision would affect the country’s capacity to regulate medicines entering the health system.

The government also expressed reservations about requirements for sharing health information with the United States.

Mr Akandoh noted that drawing a distinction between individual records and aggregated data did not eliminate the need for thorough scrutiny, given the importance of safeguarding information and ensuring that any data-sharing arrangement serves Ghana’s interests.

He further raised concerns about the overall framing of the proposed compact, pointing to the US administration’s “America First” policy.

Ghana, he argued, must equally place its own priorities at the centre of negotiations and ensure that external partnerships do not compromise national objectives.

Mr Akandoh said the government had formally documented its concerns and submitted them to Cabinet, in line with President John Dramani Mahama’s directive that matters requiring further deliberation be referred to the collective decision-making body.

The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were subsequently instructed to convey Ghana’s position to their American counterparts. The United States has since forwarded a revised memorandum of understanding, which is currently under review before it is presented to Cabinet for a final decision.

The minister emphasised that Ghana’s need for development partners would not force the government to accept terms it considers unfavourable.

The development follows President Mahama’s earlier disclosure that Washington had requested further discussions with Accra to revise or remove the contentious provisions.

The government says the revised document is still under consideration, and no final decision will be taken until Cabinet has completed its review.