By Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
President John Dramani Mahama has revealed that Ghana lost about $78 million in health funding following the cancellation of United States aid programmes under the administration of President Donald Trump.
Delivering a keynote address at the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva on Monday, May 18, 2026, President Mahama said the development had dealt a significant blow to Ghana’s healthcare sector and broader development agenda.
“In Ghana, health financing from bilateral and multilateral partners has declined significantly since 2025. Ghana lost $78 million in health funding following the closure of US aid programmes.
“These funds supported malaria programmes, maternal and child health, nutrition, and HIV/AIDS interventions, including testing and the provision of antiretroviral drugs,” he told the Assembly.
According to the President, global health assistance has fallen by about 40 per cent since the COVID-19 pandemic, with Ghana among the countries significantly affected by the reduction in funding.
“Six years after the COVID-19 pandemic, the global health architecture is changing rapidly. Overall, humanitarian assistance has reportedly declined by 40 per cent, and some of the world’s largest economies have significantly reduced their overseas development assistance,” he said.
President Mahama also noted that the budget of the World Health Organization has been severely affected by the withdrawal of US support.
“The World Health Organization’s budget has been gutted by the withdrawal of US assistance, forcing the organisation to scale down programmes and undertake staff retrenchment,” he said.
The President stressed the need for African countries to strengthen domestic healthcare systems and reduce overreliance on foreign assistance in order to safeguard public health delivery.
The 79th World Health Assembly has brought together world leaders, policymakers and health experts to discuss pressing global health challenges and sustainable healthcare financing.
President Mahama, who is attending the gathering to advocate greater health sovereignty for countries in the Global South, also expressed concern about the continued decline in international health support since the COVID-19 pandemic.
