“Think About How We Sign These Agreements” – Sam George Warns Over Ghana’s Health Data

According to JoyNews on Thursday, October 22, 2026, the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has called for greater scrutiny of agreements involving Ghana’s health records, warning that promises made by foreign technology companies may not guarantee the country full control over sensitive information.

The minister raised the concern during JoyNews’ Digital Economy Forum on AI and the Ghana Economy on Wednesday, October 21, where he discussed the risks associated with sharing national data with foreign technology providers. He stressed that Ghana must carefully examine the terms of such agreements before allowing external companies to handle information belonging to its citizens.

Sam George explained that some international technology companies provide contractual assurances that customers’ information will remain protected. However, he questioned whether such promises could guarantee Ghana’s data sovereignty when foreign laws might also apply to the companies managing the information.

He disclosed that he had held discussions with major technology companies, including Google and Amazon Web Services, over the protections they offer in their agreements. According to him, these companies provide assurances intended to protect customers’ information, but he believes the possible effects of foreign legal requirements must also be considered.

The minister specifically referred to the United States’ CLOUD Act, a law that can require certain technology service providers to disclose data within its legal scope. He argued that Ghana should not assume that contractual promises alone would prevent foreign authorities from seeking access to information held by companies subject to their jurisdiction.

His concerns are particularly significant when it comes to health records, which may contain sensitive personal information about patients, their medical histories and the treatment they receive.

“Especially when you look at what they try to do with our health records, extremely important that we begin to think about how we sign this agreement and how we utilise those platforms,” Sam George said, emphasising the need for careful consideration before entering into arrangements involving sensitive national data.

The minister’s remarks come amid Ghana’s disagreement with the United States over provisions in a proposed health cooperation compact. The Ghanaian government rejected the proposed agreement after raising concerns about health data, financing obligations and regulatory authority.

President John Mahama previously indicated that the proposed terms included provisions relating to access to Ghana’s pathogen profile and medical records. The government’s position reflected concerns about whether the arrangements would provide sufficient protection for the country’s health information.

However, the United States Embassy disputed suggestions that Washington was seeking identifiable patient records. It explained that the proposed arrangement involved aggregate health data without personally identifiable information, primarily to assess the performance of health programmes.

The proposed compact involved US$109 million in American assistance over five years. President Mahama later disclosed that Washington had requested further discussions on the disputed provisions, with the possibility of amending or removing the clauses that raised concerns.

The disagreement has highlighted the challenge facing governments as they seek international support for healthcare programmes while protecting sensitive information and maintaining control over national data.

Sam George’s comments also reflect a wider debate about data sovereignty as artificial intelligence and cloud computing become increasingly important in public administration. Governments are increasingly required to consider where their information is stored, who can access it and which legal systems may apply to the companies managing it.

For Ghana, the issue extends beyond healthcare to other areas where government institutions collect and process citizens’ information. The minister believes that decisions about technology platforms and international agreements must take these risks into account rather than relying exclusively on assurances from service providers.

His warning serves as a call for government officials to examine contractual obligations carefully and ensure that adequate safeguards are in place before sharing sensitive information with foreign technology companies.

As discussions about artificial intelligence and digital transformation continue, Ghana faces the task of balancing the benefits of international technology partnerships with the need to protect its citizens’ privacy and preserve national control over important data.

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