By Emmanuel Nduka
Ghana has pulled out of negotiations for a proposed multi-year aid agreement with the United States after Washington reportedly demanded access to citizens’ personal data, according to a source familiar with the discussions.
The breakdown in talks comes as the US, under President Donald Trump, pushes to renegotiate health-focused assistance across Africa following the dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development and a reduced role for non-governmental organisations.
A source close to Ghana’s negotiating team said the agreement had effectively collapsed, describing the talks as “dead” after both sides failed to find common ground.
The team reportedly included senior health officials, indicating the deal was partly tied to healthcare support.
Tensions escalated during negotiations when Ghana resisted the data-sharing condition, prompting what the source described as a “hostile” response from the US delegation, which allegedly increased pressure on Accra to comply.
The development underscores growing concerns among African governments over data sovereignty and the conditions attached to foreign aid, particularly as global powers recalibrate their engagement strategies across the continent.
