John Mahama says US seeks to review rejected $109m health compact

President John Mahama has revealed that the United States government is seeking to renegotiate a $109 million health compact previously rejected by the Ghanaian Cabinet. Speaking at a Citizens' Engagement event in Goaso, the President explained that the initial agreement was turned down because its provisions posed a threat to Ghana's sovereignty and the privacy of its citizens. The compact was originally intended to replace certain funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) but failed to pass cabinet scrutiny due to specific problematic clauses.

According to President Mahama, the rejected terms included requirements for Ghana to share sensitive national pathogen profiles and private medical records of its citizens with the U.S. government. Mahama characterized these initial demands as "humiliating" to the nation's autonomy, asserting that the Cabinet could not overlook the risks associated with such data sharing. The President emphasized that while international partnerships are valued, they must not compromise the country’s fundamental rights or the security of its citizens' health data.

The United States has now indicated a willingness to discuss and potentially revise the controversial clauses that led to the deadlock. Mahama noted that this outreach provides an opportunity for fresh dialogue to address the specific concerns raised by the Ghanaian government during the first round of reviews. He reaffirmed that Ghana remains open to foreign assistance and collaboration in the health sector, provided the final terms respect the nation's sovereign rights and ensure the absolute confidentiality of its people's medical information.