On behalf of Ghana, the President of the Republic – His Excellency John Dramani Mahama as at 28th April, 2026, has rejected and walked away from US health Aid Deal over sharing citizen’s sensitive health data. This sensitive health data including – disease data, health system information and possible long-term data access, was reported to have been rejected by Ghana because, part of the deal required the country to hand over its citizens’ sensitive health data for 25years, even when the supposed deal will expire or last for only five years.
During this period of 25years, information reaching the public was that, the country on the other hand, will not also even have access or question how the data will be used. That is to say – the country will not have any legal right to question US of why, what, where, and how this data will be useful to them.
Again, it was also informed that this requirement would even affect Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), where the institution will be prevented from scrutinizing certain medicinal products that may be imported from US. In other words, any product that would be registered as made in US, the FDA will therefore, have no legal rights to conduct further checks before it enters the Ghanaian market to be sold.
Stemming from this, citizens of Ghana have proudly applauded the President for exercising this mandate to save nationals at the long run; with others questioning that – who will even be controlling this data and how will it even also be used in the near future? Other individuals also lamented that the US tabling this deal with such requirements before Ghana is even absurd, considering the fact that, they have labeled the Deal in a form of a warrant instead of negotiation which can be very risky, looking at how other countries like Kenya even raised similar concerns about this said “Deal”.
Apart from this, some have termed the President decision as a “smart move”, given the context under which the conditions were even outlined in this said “Deal”. With many also saying that the previous government would have gladly and easily accepted this offer even at the expense of citizens’ objections. “A move to recognize the African People, thank you President for standing up for your people. It is absolutely clear that there are no good intentions behind this deal and this is a defining moment for Africa”, said a national”.
Impressive