Mahama rejects US health compact over medical records, FDA restrictions
President John Dramani Mahama has explained Ghana’s decision to reject a proposed health compact with the United States, citing concerns over what he described as unacceptable conditions attached to the agreement.
The proposed compact was intended to replace some health funding previously provided through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). According to President Mahama, the proposal was reviewed by the Ministry of Health before being presented to Cabinet.
Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, the President said the Health Ministry raised concerns about provisions relating to Ghana’s health data, financing commitments and regulatory powers.
He said one of the conditions required Ghana to provide the United States with its pathogen profile and medical records.
“It states that we shall give the United States our pathogen profile. It also says we should give our medical records. I mean, who takes another country’s medical records?” he said.
Mr Mahama also disclosed that the proposed agreement required Ghana to commit a specified amount of counterpart funding.
He further said the compact contained provisions that would have exempted medicines and other medical products supplied under the programme from inspection by Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).
The President said the concerns raised over these provisions influenced Cabinet’s decision to reject the proposed agreement.
Describing the terms as “humiliating,” Mr Mahama said Cabinet rejected the compact shortly after it was presented for consideration.
“I’ve never seen anything thrown out as fast as that,” he added.
Following the decision, the Minister of Health was instructed to communicate Ghana’s position to the US Ambassador.
President Mahama said Ghana would instead focus on strengthening domestic health financing and production capacity while maintaining cooperation with international partners.
The decision comes amid the withdrawal of US health and development assistance, which Mr Mahama has previously linked to the launch of the Accra Reset initiative.
According to the President, the withdrawal has created a significant financing gap in Ghana’s health sector and highlighted the risks associated with heavy reliance on external funding.
Through the Accra Reset initiative, Mr Mahama has been advocating greater self-reliance in healthcare, including increased local production of medicines and vaccines, expanded research capacity and stronger health systems that can operate with less dependence on external assistance.
At another Accra Reset event in New York, the President launched a report titled A Sovereign Future for Health, which outlines recommendations for strengthening health systems in the Global South and reducing dependence on external financing.
Mr Mahama stressed that Ghana’s approach was not aimed at cutting ties with international partners but at building partnerships based on what he described as greater equality and sustainability.
The proposed US health compact formed part of bilateral health arrangements being negotiated following the restructuring of US foreign assistance, with Ghana among several African countries to raise concerns about aspects of the new framework.
By Esther Padmore Amono
