Omanghana
President John Dramani Mahama says the United States has requested renewed discussions with Ghana over a proposed $109 million health compact, offering to amend or remove provisions that prompted Cabinet to reject the agreement.
Speaking during a citizens’ engagement in Goaso as part of his two-day Resetting Ghana tour of the Ahafo Region, the President said Washington had approached his administration to revisit the disputed terms. He indicated that Ghana remained willing to engage in dialogue.
The proposed compact would provide US health assistance over five years, replacing some support previously delivered through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Ghana rejected the initial proposal over concerns about sensitive health information, national sovereignty and regulatory oversight.
According to Mahama, the renewed discussions would focus on the provisions Ghana found unacceptable, with the possibility of changing them or removing them entirely.
“We will sit down with them and discuss,” he said.
A central concern was a requirement that Ghana share its national pathogen profiles and citizens’ private medical records with the United States. The President said the government was uncomfortable with those conditions and had previously explained its objections during an appearance at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York in September.
Mahama also said the original proposal would have prevented Ghana from inspecting medicines and medical products supplied under the arrangement. He described Cabinet’s rejection as swift, reflecting the government’s opposition to the terms presented.
Ghana’s concerns mirror disputes elsewhere in Africa over health data provisions in US funding agreements. Similar objections contributed to the collapse of negotiations with Zimbabwe, while a Kenyan court suspended implementation of that country’s agreement pending a case brought by a consumer protection group.
The proposed talks offer an opportunity to address Ghana’s objections, but Mahama’s announcement does not amount to acceptance of the compact. Any agreement remains subject to further negotiations over the disputed provisions.
Source: Omanghana
