Ghana Rejects $109m U.S. Health Aid Deal Over Data Privacy Concerns

Ghana has terminated negotiations with the United States over a proposed multi-year aid package after Washington demanded access to citizens’ personal and health data, according to sources familiar with the talks.

The agreement, valued at about $109 million over five years, was part of a broader push by the administration of U.S. President, Donald Trump, to restructure foreign assistance following the dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and reduced reliance on NGOs. 

Sources say discussions broke down after Ghana objected to conditions requiring the sharing of sensitive data, with tensions escalating toward the final stages of negotiations.

The U.S. reportedly set a deadline for agreement, but Accra declined to proceed, citing concerns over data sovereignty. 

The proposed funding was expected to support efforts to combat diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and possibly polio, under Washington’s new “America First Global Health Strategy”, which emphasizes greater self-reliance by recipient countries. 

The U.S. State Department has declined to disclose details of the negotiations but says it remains committed to maintaining strong bilateral relations with Ghana.