Mahama explains why Ghana rejected US$100m health compact

President John Dramani Mahama has explained Ghana’s decision to reject a proposed health compact from the United States, saying the conditions attached to the agreement were unacceptable and, in some respects, “humiliating”.

The compact was presented as an alternative to health funding previously provided through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Ghana was among the African countries approached under the new arrangement.

However, after reviewing the proposed terms, the Ghanaian government decided not to accept the package.

Speaking at an engagement with the Council on Foreign Relations on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, President Mahama said the proposal was first reviewed by the Health Ministry before being submitted to Cabinet.

He said the government identified several provisions that raised concerns, including requirements relating to Ghana’s pathogen profile and medical records.

“It means that diseases that are endemic in Ghana, what are diseases endemic in Ghana, what is the pathogen profile of a country. I’m sure there are medical experts who understand that better than me. And it also says we should give our medical records. I mean, who takes another country’s medical records? And so that was strange,” he said.

The President also cited a provision concerning medicines and medical products that would be brought into Ghana, saying it would limit the authority of the Food and Drugs Authority to inspect such products.

“And then it also says that any medications or any medical products that shall be brought into our country, our Food and Drugs Administration has absolutely no rights to inspect. I mean, it was humiliating,” Mahama stated.

According to the President, Cabinet swiftly rejected the proposed compact after considering the conditions.

“And so it was the compact that was thrown out in record time in our cabinet. I’ve never seen anything thrown out as fast as that,” he said.

Mahama said the government subsequently directed the Health Minister to formally communicate Ghana’s position to the US ambassador.

“And so, of course, we rejected it. And we asked the health minister to inform the US ambassador that we didn’t need it. We’ll manage ourselves,” he added.

Although the proposed package was worth more than US$100 million, the President said Ghana was not prepared to accept funding under terms it considered unacceptable.

“And for a patent, it’s $100 and something million. And so we said, no, we didn’t want it. And we’re doing fine,” he said.

The proposed health compact was intended to replace health support previously provided through USAID.

Mahama said Ghana’s decision followed the country’s internal review process and was based on concerns about the conditions attached to the proposed funding.